Maharashtra MLC polls: High drama as MVA tussles over its Nashik candidate

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut. , Photo Credit: PTI

High drama ensued on Monday as the last day of withdrawal of nominations for teachers’ and graduates’ constituency seats in the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) still unclear about whether to support a candidate. Hotly contested seat in the Nashik graduates’ constituency.

Elections to five MLC seats (two graduates’ and three teachers’ constituencies), which are scheduled to be held on January 30, again exposed the poor coordination between the three MVA coalition partners (the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)) Have done Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction) in general, and raging factionalism within the Maharashtra Congress in particular.

The Congress faced embarrassment after three-time MLC Sudhir Tambe from Nashik withdrew his nomination last week defying the party high command. In his stead, his son, Satyajit Tambe—a former president of the Maharashtra Youth Congress—announced his candidacy as an independent, while adding that he would seek the support of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Sources said that while the Congress suspended Dr. Sudhir Tambe and started an inquiry to find out why he did not fill his nomination form, the party high command on Monday initiated disciplinary action against Mr. Satyajit Tambe as well .

gross confusion

Meanwhile, after Tambe’s ‘betrayal’, there was further confusion within the MVA over the declaration of the candidate for the Nashik seat.

The seat was initially held by the Congress, but has now gone to the Thackeray camp. The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Sunday announced that it is supporting Shubhangi Patil for the Nashik seat.

However, today, both Ms. Patil and another candidate—Subhash Jangle—claimed that each had the support of the Sena (UBT) and the MVA for being the opposition’s candidate.

In Nagpur too, the NCP had to suspend its candidate, Satish Itkelwar, after Satish Itkelwar refused to withdraw his nomination (in favor of the Congress-backed candidate) on the party’s orders.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “We don’t want to talk about Congress’ disquiet in Nashik… However, every constituent party in the MVA should take a lesson from this and ensure better coordination in future.” “

Mr. Raut said that initially the Nagpur teachers’ constituency was left for the Shiv Sena (UBT). But, due to the problem created by the Tambe father-son duo, the Sena (UBT) had to support a candidate in Nashik, while the Congress would choose its candidate for Nagpur.

“Every time, such a sacrifice [over seat preference] To be done by Shiv Sena. However, we will not do this every time,” Mr Raut warned.

Mr. Raut declined to comment on Mr. Satyajit Tambe, saying only that the Shiv Sena had decided to support Ms. Patil while the MVA was yet to formally announce that it was throwing its weight behind her. Is putting

Incidentally, Ms Patil, who had recently joined the BJP, had filed her nomination as an independent with the hope of being officially supported by the saffron party.

clear stance

Meanwhile, while the BJP is yet to openly express its support for Mr. Satyajit Tambe, senior BJP leader from Nashik Girish Mahajan said the party will soon clear its stand as to which candidate it would favor for the Nashik seat. is supporting

“It will be decided by Devendra Fadnavis and our state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule… As far as Shubhangi Patil’s case is concerned, she had joined our party only 20 days ago. We told them not to expect tickets. Then, she went and met Mr. Thackeray to seek his support. As far as we are concerned, the BJP has washed its hands off them.