Maharashtra elections: Alliances clash over key constituencies
- In Reports
- 08:35 PM, Oct 30, 2024
- Myind Staff
A conflict has arisen within the Mahayuti alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) over the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency. The BJP has officially declared Suresh Krishna Patil, popularly known as Bullet Patil, as its candidate. This decision follows the NCP's nomination of Nawab Malik for the same seat, setting the stage for a contentious competition ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.
“Mahayuti (Shivsena) official candidate from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar is Bullet Patil. We will fight to defeat candidates supporting Vote Jihad, Terrorism,” BJP's Kriti Somaiya posted on X.
Nawab Malik filed his nomination from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar as an NCP (Ajit Pawar) candidate on Tuesday. After submitting the nomination, Malik said, “Today, I filed a nomination from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Vidhan Sabha constituency as an NCP candidate. I had filed the form as an Independent candidate also. But the party has sent the AB form and we submitted it at 2.55 pm and now I am the official candidate of NCP.”
Expressing gratitude to the party leadership, Malik said, “I am very thankful to (deputy chief minister) Ajit Pawar, NCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel, and NCP leader Sunil Tatkare. They have confidence in me (to win the elections)...A huge number of voters will support me...I am very confident that this time we will win the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency.”
The contest for the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar assembly seat is primarily focused on securing the Muslim vote, as the constituency is currently represented by Abu Azmi of the Samajwadi Party. Nawab Malik, a former two-time MLA from Anushakti Nagar, had previously declared his intention to run as an independent candidate from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar after the NCP, allegedly facing pressure from its ally, the BJP, initially denied him a ticket.
Sana Malik, daughter of Nawab Malik, is contesting for the Anushakti Nagar assembly seat as the candidate for the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). Meanwhile, Zeeshan Siddiqui, son of former MLA and NCP leader Baba Siddique, officially joined the NCP last week in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Zeeshan has been designated as the NCP candidate for the Vandre East constituency, a seat he previously won in 2019 by defeating Shiv Sena's Vishwanath Mahadeshwar. His decision to join the NCP comes after he expressed dissatisfaction with the Congress for allocating his Bandra East seat to Shiv Sena (UBT) as part of the Aghadi's seat-sharing agreement.
The nomination deadline for Maharashtra's assembly elections, scheduled for November 20, closed on Tuesday, following ongoing negotiations within both the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Mahayuti alliances. Adjustments may still take place until November 4, the final day for candidates to withdraw their nominations, as major parties within each alliance finalise seat-sharing agreements and accommodate smaller allies.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer's office, a total of 10,905 nomination papers were submitted, representing 7,995 candidates across Maharashtra's 288 constituencies. The Model Code of Conduct has been in effect since October 15, 2024.
Within the MVA, the Congress is contesting 101 seats, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) 96, and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) 87. Four seats remain undecided, while six constituencies—Miraj, Sangola, Pandharpur, Paranda, Dharavi, and Digras—feature candidates from two or more parties.
For the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest 152 seats, Shiv Sena 80, and the NCP 51, with five seats still undecided. In several constituencies, multiple parties within the alliance have nominated candidates.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with the results for all 288 seats set to be announced on November 23. In the previous elections, held in 2019, the BJP secured 105 seats, Shiv Sena won 56 and Congress garnered 44. In the 2014 elections, the BJP obtained 122 seats, while Shiv Sena received 63 and Congress 42.
Comments