Maharashtra assembly polls: Congress to drop 6 'vulnerable' MLAs; 1st list of 47 in 2 days

The Congress has decided to drop six sitting MLAs, who are pliable and likely to leave the party for greener pastures, in the coming Assembly elections. It has decided to field fresh faces "loyal to the party" and "committed to secular ideology".

According to a senior Congress leader, names of 85 of the 125 party candidates were finalised at a meeting held with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi. Congress is planning to kickstart its campaign in Wardha on October 2, in the presence of former chief Rahul Gandhi.

"The first list of 47 names is likely to be announced Sunday or Monday. The Pitru Paksha is over and many of the prospective candidates want to file papers early," he said requesting anonymity.

The six MLAs likely to be dropped are DS Ahir (Sakri), Kashiram Pawara (Shirpur), Aslam Sheikh (Malad), Rahul Bondre (Chikali), Bharat Bhalke (Pandarpur), and Siddharam Mehtre (Akkalkot).