India, April 25 -- The Maharashtra unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has shortlisted over 30 names for six legislative council seats that will go to the polls next month, with a preference for organisational faces over leaders who were defeated in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections two years ago, according to party insiders.

The state unit's core committee picked the names after two meetings over the past two days. The final decision will be taken by the party's central leadership, with the list of candidates expected by April 28. The last date for filing nominations is April 30 for the biennial elections to nine Legislative Council seats and one bypoll. Under the Mahayuti alliance's seat-sharing arrangement, the BJP will contes...