Maharashtra Assembly Elections
Today, the rebels have emerged as a major challenge in the electoral battle in Maharashtra. Election chiefs from both coalitions are looking for ways to persuade the rebels. The BJP-led NDA, the grand alliance includes Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar’s NCP(S) are members of the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi.
Nonetheless, political tensions between the two sides have increased as rebel leaders have won several seats and two candidates, the New Democratic Alliance and the Indian Alliance, are competing. Among the rebels who submitted nominations to the BJP, Gopal Shetty is a big name. He won from Borivali assembly constituency in Mumbai. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Bala Begde also did not get votes and so he entered the fray as an independent candidate. The BJP claimed that all independents would attend the meeting on time.
BJP’s Amol Shinde takes rebel path from Pachora seat
Amol Shinde of the BJP defected from the Pachora seat and entered the fray as an independent candidate. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Atul Shah has taken a rebellious stance on the Mumbadevi seat and entered the fray as an independent candidate. BJP leader Vijayraj Shinde has bagged the seat independent from Buldhana. BJP leader Prakash Gavai has filed an independent nomination from the Mekha seat.
Hasmukh Gehlot, the BJP deputy mayor of Ovala Majewada, has defected and entered the field. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sunil Shinde staged a rebellion in Paithan seat. BJP leader Bhaskar Dhanv rebels against Janaya seat. Sunil Mirkar of the BJP defected and contested from Sirode seat.
Tensions rise over Sawanwadi seat Vishal Palba
BJP’s Vishal Parba contests from Sawantwadi seat. The BJP’s Satish Ghatge is the rebel candidate from Ghansawangi seat. The BJP’s Kiran Thackeray is contesting from the Karjat seat as an independent candidate. However, political parties believe that the rebels do not have much influence in the 288-seat parliament and that it has influence in smaller states.
BJP leaders battle NCP for 9 seats
The BJP leader is contesting on around nine seats against the NCP candidates led by Ajit Pawar. Here, the Ahli seat was won by Ambrish Atram of the BJP. Shirish Choudhary of the BJP is contesting from the Amarna seat. Similarly, Jagdish Gupta is also contesting from the Amravati seat as an independent. Milind Ambal of the BJP is contesting from the Wasmat seat.
Ranganath Solanke of the BJP from Pathrit, the BJP’s hopes for the Junnar seat have been dashed. Bala Bhegde of the Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting from the Mawar seat as an independent. The Udgir seat was won by Dilip Gaikwad of the BJP. Ramesh Thorat won the election from Kalwan seat. Overall, 35 NDA seats in Maharashtra witnessed insurgency.
9 BJP candidates against Shinde Sena candidates
Nine Hindu Sena rebels are contesting against the BJP candidate and nine BJP rebels are contesting against the NCP candidate. Seven leaders of Shinde Sena betrayed NCP candidates. An NCP rebel is contesting against the Shinde Sena candidate, while 14 MVA leaders have rebelled and contested the elections so far.
Overall, around 50 rebels are posing a challenge to both parties in Maharashtra politics. However, political parties still hope to win over many rebels before November 4, the date when nominations are withdrawn.
