Workers of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in Pune have voiced strong discontent over the seat-sharing arrangement proposed by its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections. The bone of contention is the BJP's reported offer of only 15 seats out of the total 165 seats in the civic body to the Shiv Sena.
Workers Gather in Protest, Voice Frustration
The dissatisfaction spilled onto the streets as party workers assembled outside the residence of senior Shiv Sena leader Nilam Gorhe. They expressed deep disappointment, arguing that such a limited number of seats would severely hinder the party's ability to strengthen its organizational base in the city.
"If the Shiv Sena gets to contest only 15 seats then how will it strengthen its base in the city?" questioned a party office bearer. Highlighting the internal demand, the leader added, "We are very upset. How can we accommodate aspirants when around 500 of them applied for party candidature?"
Leadership Responds to Unrest
Senior leader Nilam Gorhe acknowledged the workers' sentiments, stating she understood their disappointment regarding the seat-sharing deal. She assured them that she would convey their feelings to party chief Eknath Shinde for a final decision. "I will convey the feelings of party workers to Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde who will take a decision on it," Gorhe said.
In a parallel development, former legislator and prominent city leader Ravindra Dhangekar rushed to Mumbai to meet Shinde personally and apprise him of the tense situation in Pune. Dhangekar has been actively demanding a larger share of seats for the Shiv Sena to contest in the PMC polls.
Historical Context and New Political Reality
This electoral battle marks the first Pune civic polls since the dramatic split in the original Shiv Sena. In the previous 2017 PMC elections, the undivided Shiv Sena had secured ten seats, making it the third-largest party after the BJP and the NCP.
The current scenario stems from the 2022 political shift when Eknath Shinde, along with 40 legislators, allied with the BJP to form the government in Maharashtra, leading to the creation of the 'Mahayuti' alliance. The current disagreement over Pune seats is a significant test for this alliance's cohesion at the local level.
