Udayanraje Bhosle, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was today named by the NCP as its candidate for Satara Lok Sabha seat in western Maharashtra. The announcement was made by NCP state unit president R R Patil. Patil’s announcement puts to rest speculation about Udayanraje contesting against NCP president Sharad Pawar from Madha constituency as an independent.

There were reports that former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was persuading Udayanraje to contest from Madha.