EVEN as the Election Commission of India has declared the poll schedule and parties have candidates’ campaigns all set up, the Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi are wracked by internal wars, unable to come to an agreement over who should contest the seat and which candidate should be fielded.
In the prestigious Baramati seat, Shiv Sena leader Vijay Shivtare has added a new twist to the bitter family battle where the Pawars are at war with each other. While Supriya Sule and her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar are battling it out on the Baramati turf, Shivtare has declared that he will contest the Baramati seat and defeat Sunetra Pawar to avenge his humiliation by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The NCP on its part has threatened that if Shivtare is not withdrawn by Shiv Sena from the fray, the party will oppose each and every candidate of the Sena across Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena is likely to take action against Shivtare if he goes ahead and files his nomination papers.
In the Sangli seat, the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) which are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, have locked horns over the fielding of a candidate. While Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has announced the name of Chandrahar Patil, a popular wrestler, MPCC chief Nana Patole Congress will be fielding Vishal Patil, grandson of former chief minister Vasantdada Patil from the Sangli seat.
Upset over Congress’ stand, Sena (UBT) has decided to approach the Congress high command. ”The Shiv Sena has a claim over Sangli seat. We have already decided to field Chandrahar Patil who has started campaigning,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut.
The Sena leaders said they will not talk to Patole. ”Patole’s announcement has hurt Uddhav Thackeray. He cannot announce on its own when it was decided at the seat-sharing discussions that Sena will contest the seat,” said a Sena leader.
Raut said they are confident that Congress high command will understand their position and will give the green signal to Sena for contesting the Sangli seat. On the other hand, Patole after announcing the name of Vishal Patil said the discussions over the seat are still underway.
Like the Baramati and Sangli seat, Satara has also caused fissures among the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, NCP led by Ajit Pawar and the BJP. The Shinde Sena wants to contest the seat and similarly the Ajit Pawar group too has laid claim to the seat. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Udayanraje Bhosale, who was defeated from Satara seat in 2019, is also eyeing the seat. He has rushed to Delhi to hold discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. For two days now, Udayanraje has been seeking the appointment of Shah. Close associates of Udayanraje said he is seeking to avenge his humiliation in 2019 when octogenarian Sriniwas Patil, a friend of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, defeated him to clinch the seat. It was widely believed that Sharad Pawar’s speech in the pouring rain turned the tide in favour of Patil.