Days of unease within the Mahayuti alliance over the Raigad and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar seats for the upcoming MLC elections have finally come to an end. The kin of two Shiv Sena MLAs decided to pull out of the race after alliance leaders swiftly moved into damage control mode. Thursday marks the last day for withdrawal of nominations.
Rebel Candidates Withdraw
Even as the Mahayuti was locked in negotiations last week, Juili Dalvi, daughter of Sena MLA Mahendra Dalvi, had filed her nomination from Raigad as an independent candidate. Similarly, Sameer Sattar, son of MLA Abdul Sattar, entered the fray from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The Sena had reportedly eyed seven of the 17 seats that go to polls on June 18 but ended up with only four. Raigad went to the NCP and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to the BJP.
Other key rebels from the Sena who announced withdrawal of their candidatures include Viplav Bajoria, Reshma Kale, Deepak Dhande, and Tanaji Patil. The BJP also managed to pacify two of its own rebels—Ganesh Geete and Gokul Geete—who had filed their nominations as independents from the Nashik seat, which falls in the Sena's kitty.
MVA's Position in Nashik
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has no candidate in Nashik as both Sena (UBT) faces—Vasant Gite and Anil Kadam—backed out. Rebutting the charge that the party failed to even put up a fight in the constituency, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, “Vasant Gite and Anil Kadam had submitted applications as per the party’s instructions. There is a difference between submitting an application and filing it. The enthusiasm that should be seen for candidacy was not seen... We were not kept in the dark while deciding not to field a candidate. Discussions were held with party leaders.”
Asserting that the MLC polls “are not going to change the politics of the state”, Raut further stated, “Whoever wants to contest will contest. Our policy was not to hold unopposed elections. We filed nominations in many places. If someone had come forward in Nashik, we would have definitely stood behind them.”
Of the 17 seats, the BJP is contesting 11 and the NCP two. The alliance's swift action has averted a potential crisis, ensuring unity ahead of the polls.
