Allies in govt, rivals on ground: Mahayuti parties induct MVA runner-up candidates in constituencies won by their allies

Out of the 26 MVA runner up candidates inducted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 17 have been enrolled on seats held by its allies. The current strength of the BJP in Maharashtra assembly is 132. The BJP has inducted 10 Opposition runner-ups on the seats won by Eknath Shinde led Sena, while seven on seats won by Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). In addition, in the Beed assembly seat, the party has brought in the NCP candidate Yogesh Kshirsagar to its fold.

“We are three different parties. If people want to join the BJP, then we will welcome them. Our job is to expand the party and include as many sections of people as possible. We cannot turn them away if they want to join us,” said Keshav Upadhye, spokesperson, Maharashtra BJP.

Upadhye said, “None of our allies feel insecure as it is the job of every political party to expand as much as possible.”

The analysis of the data by The Indian Express shows that out of these 46, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has inducted the largest chunk of 26, followed by deputy Chief Minister led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with 13 and another deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena with seven.

NCP’s current strength in assembly is 41. All 13 turncoats who have joined the NCP in the past one year are on seats held by its allies. Of these, seven are in assembly segments won by the BJP, while six are Sena’s seats.

“We are in alliance, but we cannot stop people who want to join our party. Every party will try to strengthen its organisation,” an NCP leader said.

Of the seven turncoats who switched to Shinde-led Sena, four are from the seats held by allies. Two are from seats held by the BJP, one each from Rashtriya Samaj Paksh (RSP) and the NCP. The Sena has a strength of 57 in the state assembly.

Ministers from Shinde-led Sena had recently expressed anger over the BJP’s decision to induct MVA leaders who had fought against them. Two weeks ago, the Sena ministers, except Shinde, boycotted the cabinet meeting over the issue. Following the boycott, the Sena ministers held a meeting with Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.

The two parties had reportedly agreed upon not to induct leaders from each other’s parties. A Sena minister on the condition of anonymity said that the BJP has already ensured the joining of key Opposition leaders from our respective areas. “We are confident that Shinde ji and Fadnavis ji will find a way out of this situation,” the minister said.