Despite Cong claim, NCP (SP) gets Bhiwandi; fields Maratha face in Beed

The party later claimed that the announcement has come after the allies in the tripartite accepted the same.

“We thank all members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi for approving Suresh Mhatre as the alliance candidate on Bhiwandi seat,” said NCP (SP) chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase.

Mhatre will take on BJP candidate and sitting MP Kapil Patil. Mhatre, however, has been to several parties in the past and has even contested general elections as MNS candidate.

He had earlier joined Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena and later switched back to the NCP led by Sharad Pawar.

Congress had staked claims on Sangli, Bhiwandi and Mumbai South Central seats which had led to disagreements within the opposition alliance. The party had announced its displeasure on Shiv Sean (UBT) announcing its candidates on Sangli and Mumbai South Central seats.

Sources within the Congress said that the decision to exchange the seat was taken in the meeting of MVA leaders on Wednesday night.

Interestingly, Congress always contested from Bhiwandi seat.With NCP (SP) claiming Bhiwandi seat this time, Congress will have only two Lok Sabha Seats in Mumbai, in the entire Konkan region which has a total of 12 LS seats.

Meanwhile in Beed, the party has nominated Bajrang Sonawane who was the NCP candidate in 2019 as well. Sonawane had won over five lakh votes then.

In the wake of recent Maratha agitation of which Marathwada was the epicenter, the NCP (SP) has decided to give chance to a strong Maratha face against BJP’s Pankaja Munde, who belongs to Vanjari (OBC) category.