The ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra has successfully concluded its negotiations and reached a consensus on seat distribution for the upcoming Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections. The agreement, announced at a joint press conference on Monday evening, sets the stage for a united front in the crucial civic polls.
Seat-Sharing Formula and Leadership Statements
Senior leaders from the alliance partners, including district guardian minister Prakash Abitkar, minister Hasan Mushrif, Rajya Sabha MP Dhananjay Mahadik, state planning commission head MLA Rajesh Kshirsagar, and MLA Amal Mahadik, presented a united front. The final seat-sharing formula allocates 36 seats to the BJP, 30 seats to the Shiv Sena, and 15 seats to the NCP out of the total 81 seats in the corporation.
Minister Hasan Mushrif expressed confidence in a clean sweep, stating the alliance would work hard to get all 81 candidates elected. He highlighted increased interest in contesting compared to five years ago and assured that those denied nominations would be respected. Mushrif also reiterated the promise of disbursing Rs 2,100 to Ladki Bahin scheme beneficiaries soon.
MP Dhananjay Mahadik confirmed that the final list of candidates would be announced on Tuesday morning, coinciding with the last date for filing nominations. He apologized to party workers who did not receive tickets, emphasizing that the alliance tried to accommodate as many as possible, and promised a people-centric manifesto.
Rebellion Brews Among Denied Aspirants
However, the conclusion of the seat-sharing process has not been smooth, with visible resentment emerging among party ranks. Several office-bearers and hopefuls have expressed their discontent, with some threatening to rebel.
In a dramatic protest, Dhanashree Todkar, the BJP's metropolitan general secretary for Kolhapur, has threatened to self-immolate in front of the party office on Tuesday at 11 am. Todkar, who lost her husband recently, claimed her dedication to the party was overlooked due to her lack of financial strength.
Similarly, former Shiv Sena corporator Rahul Chavan has hinted at filing his nomination as an independent candidate. Chavan, who was the party's sole corporator in the last KMC body, called the denial of a ticket an injustice and vowed to contest the elections regardless.
Meanwhile, the nomination process is in full swing. By Monday evening, a total of 199 candidates had already filed their nominations for the Kolhapur civic polls.
Contrast with Other Civic Polls
The Kolhapur consensus stands in contrast to the alliance's fortunes in other municipal corporations. In Sangli, the Shiv Sena exited the Mahayuti alliance after failing to reach a seat-sharing agreement. Conversely, for the Solapur Municipal Corporation elections, a different political realignment has emerged, with Shiv Sena and NCP joining hands against the BJP.
The successful pact in Kolhapur is seen as a critical test of the Mahayuti coalition's cohesion at the local level. All eyes are now on the official candidate list and whether the alliance can manage internal dissent to present a formidable challenge in the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation elections.
