BJP replaces candidate in council polls

MUMBAI: CM Uddhav Thackeray and eight other candidates’ election to nine seats in the legislative council became a mere formality when their nomination papers were found valid on Tuesday.


BJP replaced one of its four candidates, fielding Ramesh Karad instead of

Ajit Gopchade

. Karad, who is from the Vanjari community, is close to a former minister from

Marathwada

.

The other candidates were Neelam Gorhe of the Shiv Sena; Gopichand Padalkar, Praveen Datke and Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil of the BJP;

Shashikant Shinde

and Amol Mitkari of the NCP; and Rajesh Rathod of the Congress.