New Delhi: In a significant move, Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), expelled five rebel leaders on Tuesday for their involvement in anti-party activities. This decision followed their refusal to withdraw their nominations for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, scheduled for November 20.
The expelled leaders include Bhiwandi East MLA Rupesh Mhatre, Vishwas Nandekar, Chandrakant Ghugul, Sanjay Awari, and Prasad Thackeray. This action is part of the ongoing tensions within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, which consists of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP. Fourteen leaders from the alliance had defied party orders by submitting their nominations.
Among those who complied with the party’s request was Congress member Mukhtar Shaikh, who withdrew his nomination for the Kasba Peth constituency in Pune and pledged support for the official candidate, Ravindra Dhangekar.
In a dramatic turn of events, royal scion Madhurima Raje Chhatrapati also withdrew her candidacy as the Congress candidate for Kolhapur North, leaving the party without representation in a key area of western Maharashtra. Her nomination had replaced ex-corporator Rajesh Latkar after his party office was attacked by dissenters.
In addition, seven Congress rebels, including Hemalata Patil from Nashik Central, Madhu Chavan from Byculla, and Vishwanath Walvi from Nandurbar, have decided to withdraw their nominations. At present, only two NCP(SP) rebels are still in the contest.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, famous for his hunger strikes advocating reservations for the Maratha community, also pulled out of the elections. He stated, “The Maratha community will decide whom to defeat and whom to elect,” and announced plans to support candidates from Parvati and Daund, with their names to be revealed later.
With the withdrawal of these nominations, 4,140 candidates are now in the running for the 288 Maharashtra assembly seats, a 28 percent increase from the 3,239 candidates in the 2019 elections.
This year’s elections are particularly significant, as they feature major regional parties like the NCP and Shiv Sena, contesting after substantial internal splits. Factions led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s NCP have joined forces with the BJP to form the Mahayuti coalition. This collaboration, which has shifted the political dynamics in the state, sets the stage for a fierce contest as the ruling coalition seeks to retain its dominance amidst the fragmented opposition.
The contest is expected to reflect the ongoing realignment in Maharashtra politics, with both regional parties and national forces trying to consolidate their positions. Voters are keenly watching how the new alliances play out in this crucial election, which will not only impact the state’s governance but could also have broader implications for the national political landscape.
In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress garnered 44 seats. In 2014, BJP achieved 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are set for November 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. This high-stakes election could redefine the state’s political landscape and alter the power dynamics within the MVA and Mahayuti coalitions.
