The BJP has by-and-large applied four key criteria — status quo, elective merit, five-year performance and proactive role in membership — while allocating tickets to candidates. The party on Tuesday declared its first list of 125 seats, of which 92 have been renominated, while nine have been denied a ticket. Explaining the system, a BJP functionary said, "The party has set an ambitious target of winning more than 2.5 crore votes and also increase its vote share. Status quo was aimed at continuity, while adequate attention was given to how sitting legislators contributed to register first time voters and youth as members and alongside effectively taking up flagship projects of the Central and state government to the voters.'' He said that the CM repeatedly clarified that no recommendations will be entertained in giving party nomination. Of the first list of 125 seats, 37 are from Western Maharashtra, 38 from Vidarbha, 20 from Mumbai and Thane, 17 from Marathwada and 11 from North Maharashtra. DEFECTORS’ PLAY The defectors from Congress and NCP have been given party nominations in a bid to increase party’s presence in their respective seats While Fadnavis will contest from the Nagpur South West, state rural development minister Pankajan Munde will contest from Parli, water resources minister Girish Mahajan from Jamner, and school education minister Ashish Shelar from Bandra (W), among others. The party has fielded 12 women candidates including Pankaja Munde from Parli. On the other hand, the party has nominated former Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who had joined the BJP recently, from Shirdi, former NCP legislator and Chhatrapati Shivaji descendent Shivendraraje Bhosale from Satara, former NCP legislator Rana Jagatjit Singh Patil from Tuljapur along with former NCP legislator Vaibhav Pichad from Akola.

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