The Shiv Sena (UBT) has staked a claim to the Aurangabad Graduates’ and Amravati Teachers’ constituencies: Reports
MUMBAI: The BJP-led Mahayuti and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are struggling to reach an agreement on seat-sharing for the October 23 Maharashtra Legislative Council elections. In the opposition MVA, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), tensions surfaced on Saturday after the Congress announced three candidates without consulting its allies. A meeting of senior MVA leaders remained inconclusive, with talks scheduled to resume on Sunday.
In the ruling Mahayuti, insiders said a seat-sharing formula had been agreed upon, but the Shinde-led Shiv Sena had yet to accept it. According to the formula, the BJP would contest three seats, while the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Sunetra Pawar-led NCP would contest one seat each.
However, the Shiv Sena is seeking the Pune Teachers’ constituency in addition to the Amravati Teachers’ constituency, and has not agreed to the BJP’s proposed arrangement.
The elections are being held for five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats — the Aurangabad, Nagpur and Pune Graduates’ constituencies, and the Pune and Amravati Teachers’ constituencies. Candidates can file their nominations until October 6. Scrutiny of nominations will be held on October 7, while October 9 is the last date for withdrawal of candidature.
MVA leaders met at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Mumbai on Saturday to discuss the distribution of the five seats. The meeting was attended by Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal, senior Congress leader Arif Naseem Khan, NCP (SP) Maharashtra chief Shashikant Shinde and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut.
According to sources, the allies questioned the Congress over its decision to announce candidates without consulting the other parties. The Congress has named candidates for the Amravati Teachers’, Nagpur Graduates’ and Pune Teachers’ constituencies.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has staked a claim to the Aurangabad Graduates’ and Amravati Teachers’ constituencies. The Amravati seat has emerged as the main point of contention after the Congress announced its nominee for the constituency on Friday. The NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) are also both claiming the Aurangabad Graduates’ constituency.
Another round of talks is scheduled for Sunday evening, when the allies are expected to take a final decision.
Earlier on Saturday, Mr. Raut indicated that his party could contest independently if the allies failed to reach a consensus.
“Although our stand is that the MVA should contest the Council election together, alliance partners have their own arithmetic. Each of them thinks that it has registered more voters. If we are not able to reach a consensus, a friendly contest will be allowed,” Mr. Raut said.
Meanwhile, a fresh tussle has emerged within the Shinde-led Shiv Sena over the Pune Teachers’ constituency. Two party leaders, Mangesh Chivate and Sachin Sanap, have announced that they will file their nomination papers from the seat.
Mr. Sanap is scheduled to file his nomination on Monday, while Mr. Chivate will submit his papers on Tuesday.
Mr. Chivate is considered close to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He has served as the Deputy Chief Minister’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and headed the medical cell in Mr. Shinde’s office. Mr. Sanap is considered close to State Industries Minister Uday Samant and has served as his OSD.
Speaking to this newspaper, Mr. Sanap, an assistant professor of political science at Nowrosjee Wadia College and a trustee of the Modern Education Society, said he had been working with teachers for the past 16 years and had registered around 30,000 teachers as voters for the election. “I will file my nomination on Monday,” he said.
BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik said his party was willing to contest both the Pune Graduates’ and Pune Teachers’ constituencies. Mr. Mahadik’s remarks further indicated that the seat-sharing issue within the ruling alliance remains unresolved.
Meanwhile, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena has announced the candidature of sitting MLC Kiran Sarnaik from the Amravati Teachers’ constituency. Mr. Sarnaik had won the previous election as an independent candidate and subsequently joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
