In a significant move ahead of the civic polls, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra cabinet minister Uday Samant officially inaugurated his party's campaign for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections on Saturday. Samant asserted that any decision regarding the crucial post of Pune mayor would require the consent of the Shiv Sena, as the party is confident of securing a substantial number of seats in the January 15 election.
Alliance Talks Collapse, Sena Fields 120 Candidates
Samant revealed that negotiations with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a potential pre-poll alliance continued until the final moments. However, the talks ultimately fell through after the BJP declined the seat-sharing demands put forth by the Shiv Sena. Consequently, within just one hour of the breakdown, the Shiv Sena announced its list of 120 candidates to contest the PMC polls, marking a decisive and swift move.
Addressing a gathering of these candidates, which included prominent leaders like MLC Neelam Gorhe and MLA Vijay Shivtare, Samant outlined the party's strategy. He stated that the Shiv Sena would refrain from indulging in political criticism, noting that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar and his party were already engaged in that. "Shiv Sena prefers to respond to criticism through development initiatives. In Pune, too, the party aims to showcase its vision and achievements to counter opposition attacks," Samant declared.
Focus on Development and Law & Order
Highlighting the party's recent contributions to the city, Samant pointed to key decisions taken by Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde specifically for Pune. These initiatives primarily focus on easing the city's notorious traffic congestion and improving road infrastructure. Key projects mentioned include major interventions at the critical Chandni Chowk and Navale Bridge Chowk junctions.
Samant also underscored the pressing need to strengthen law and order in Pune, an issue he said Deputy CM Shinde has already taken up at the state level. In a bid to present a clean image, Samant assured the public that the Shiv Sena has not fielded any candidates with criminal backgrounds in the PMC election.
Grassroots Push and a "Friendly" Contest
Emphasizing the party's connection with the electorate, Samant directed party workers to hit the ground running. "The party workers will reach voters with the party's vision and development works. Shiv Sena has a strong grass-roots connection. The party workers should be on the field for the next 2 weeks," he instructed. He noted that this is the first time the party is contesting as many as 120 seats in Pune and expressed confidence that the poll outcome would be positive for the Shiv Sena.
Interestingly, despite both the Shiv Sena and the BJP contesting the elections independently after the failed alliance talks, leaders from both sides have described the upcoming contest as a "friendly" fight. This indicates a complex political dynamic where the parties are competitors at the municipal level but remain allies in the state government.
