The Congress's search for candidates for Mumbai's two prime seats seems to have ended, with the high command approving city president Sanjay Nirupam for the North-West and veteran actor Urmila Matondkar for Mumbai North. While Nirupam's name as candidate was announced late Monday, Urmila's will take some time, party sources said.

Nirupam's candidature was delayed because of opposition to his name from within the party. Some prominent leaders like Kripashankar Singh had also thrown their hats in the ring. The contention of the Nirupam detractors was that he should stick to his previous constituency, Mumbai North, where he had won a term and lost in 2014. The vacancy in North-West occurred because of Gurudas Kamat's death. As Kamat's wife and son were not willing to contest, the seat was up for grabs.