Against the backdrop of the upcoming municipal elections in the state, the Congress party has started vigorous preparations, accelerating political movements by announcing the first list of candidates for Kolhapur and Solapur municipal corporations. For the Solapur municipal election 2026, Congress has announced 20 candidates from 10 wards in the first phase. This list includes many experienced and influential names, including city president Chetan Narote.
In the first list of Congress in Solapur, former MLA Prakash Yelgulwar's daughter-in-law Seema Yelgulwar, former Mayor Arif Sheikh's daughter Saba Parveen Sheikh, and former Mayor Sanjay Hemgaddi have been given candidacy. This clearly shows that Congress is trying to balance experience and new faces. By giving opportunities to candidates with a strong local hold, Congress has taken an aggressive stance in Solapur.
Meanwhile, the first list of Congress candidates for the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation elections has been announced, with as many as 48 candidates' names declared. A meeting of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee's state selection board was held under the chairmanship of Congress state president Harshavardhan Sakpal. In this meeting, the list was finalized under the guidance of MP Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj, Legislative Council group leader and district president Satej Patil, as well as MLA Jayant Asgaonkar, former MLA Malojiraje Chhatrapati, and former MLA Ruturaj Patil.
The list of Kolhapur includes many veteran former corporators, and it appears that the Congress is once again taking decisive steps towards gaining power in the municipal corporation. The candidate lists from both cities have heated up the political atmosphere, and all eyes are on the announcement of the next phase of candidacies.