As the voting date is approaching in Maharashtra, the political atmosphere is getting heated. On one side is the ruling grand alliance, in which BJP is the largest party. Shiv Sena and NCP are together. There is Mahavikas Aghadi in the contest, in which Congress is the largest party. Along with Shiv Sena is UBT and NCP Sharad Pawar faction.
There is a fierce battle going on in Mahim seat of Mumbai in Maharashtra Assembly elections. From here, Raj Thackeray’s party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has fielded Amit Thackeray, who is Raj’s son.
The latest news is that India has made it clear that it will not support Amit Thackeray on Mahim seat. From here, Shinde’s Shiv Sena has fielded sitting MLA Sada Sarvankar, while Mahesh Sawant is the candidate of former CM Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) from the Mumbai seat.
Ashish Shelar clarified the situation
- BJP Mumbai President Ashish Shelar clarified the situation this time on Wednesday. He said, I am telling you clearly that our support to MNS is limited to Shivadi assembly seat only.
- Let us tell you, Raj Thackeray’s party is not a part of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) grand alliance, which includes BJP, Shiv Shiv Sena and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s NCP.
- Raj has fielded his candidates on two seats, including Mahim. However, Raj had supported the ruling coalition in the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year.
Third member of Thackeray family to contest elections
Amit is the third person from the Thackeray family to contest elections. His father and MNS chief Raj Thackeray never contested any election. Earlier, Amit’s second cousin Aditya Thackeray (son of Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray) had made his debut in the 2019 assembly elections by winning from the neighboring Worli seat. After becoming the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray himself was elected to the Legislative Council in 2020.
BJP strict against rebels
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Meanwhile, the BJP has taken a tough stance against the rebels in Maharashtra. The party has expelled 40 of its leaders from the party who were in the election field even after the date of withdrawal of nominations had passed. These forty leaders were posing a challenge to the party on 37 assembly seats.
The 40 leaders against whom the BJP has taken action include Ashok Pangarkar from Jalna, Vishal Prabhakar Parab from Sawantwadi, Mayur Kapse from Jalgaon city, Jagdish Gupta from Amravati and Shrikant Karle from Dhule Rural.
Karle had recently submitted his nomination as an independent candidate in Dhule Rural, days after Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule stepped up efforts to persuade the rebels to withdraw their nominations by November 4.
