Rift in Mahayuti alliance after BJP’s 1st list for Maharashtra polls?

As the BJP released its first list of 99 candidates for next month’s Maharashtra Assembly polls, some leaders of the Mahayuti alliance are apparently upset over not getting their preferred seat to contest. The Mahayuti comprises the BJP and the factions of Shiv Sena and NCP, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, respectively.
BJP’s Ravindra Chavan, a state minister, has been fielded from Dombivali again, a constituency he has been representing since 2014. Dipesh Mhatre, a local leader from Dombivali belonging to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, was reportedly keen to contest from Dombivali but has switched over to Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
Eknath Shinde is said to have had a meeting with workers from Thane, Kalyan East and Murbad after the BJP’s first list was out last week.
Apart from the apparent dissatisfaction among the Shinde Sena over seat preference, some BJP leaders are also ‘miffed’ after other candidates got a ticket to contest from those seats they were eyeing.
BJP leader Ganesh Naik has got a ticket from Airoli and his son Sandeep Naik wanted to contest from Belapur. However, the party has fielded Manda Mhatre from Belapur.
Jailed BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad’s wife Shulbha has been given a ticket from the Kalyan East seat. Gaikwad had fired upon Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction office bearers inside a police station in February. It is to be seen how the Eknath Shinde faction would respond to Shulbha’s nomination.
Two-time MLA Parag Alavani has got a ticket from Vile Parle, which was being eyed by Mumbai BJP leader Sanjay Upadhyay and his party colleague Deepak Sawant.
In the BJP’s first list, 99 candidates, including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and party leaders Ram Kadam and Nitesh Rane have been named by the party.
So far, over 80 sitting MLAs will contest again while five candidates who lost in the 2019 Assembly polls have been given tickets. Six candidates have been fielded from some seats where the BJP lost last time.
Meanwhile, the names of 18 sitting MLAs who were among the 105 legislators that tasted victory in 2019 did not find their names in the first list.
Election to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly will be held in a single phase on November 20. The counting of votes will be held on November 23.