Lok Sabha polls 2024: In Maharashtra, local differences mar seat-sharing talks for ruling and Opposition sides

One such feud is playing out in the high-profile Kalyan Lok Sabha seat represented by Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant Shinde. Even though BJP minister Ravindra Chavan tried to resolve the stalemate by giving the seat to Shrikant, local BJP leaders have been repeatedly requesting that the candidate in Kalyan must be someone who will contest on the party’s ‘lotus’ symbol.

Similar friction is seen in the Thane and Palghar Lok Sabha seats to which both the BJP and Shinde Sena have staked claim. Rajan Vichare, the sitting MP in Thane, is with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Palghar MP Rajendra Gavit is currently with the Shinde Sena. Nevertheless, the BJP leadership feels that it is strong in both seats and citing its winnability factor demanding to contest the seats, while the Shinde Sena has pointed out that both constituencies have been traditionally with the Shiv Sena and hence the Shiv Sena must get both the seats not BJP.

Within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Shinde Sena, BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, another rift has emerged over who will contest the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha seat in the Konkan region. The issue has been brewing for a couple of months now, after Union minister and BJP leader Narayan Rane staked claim to the seat for his son Nilesh even as state industries minister and Shinde Sena leader Uday Samant’s brother Kiran Samant has been eyeing the seat. Undivided Shiv Sena has been contesting from Ratnagiri Singhudurg seat for rhe past several terms, since the Konkan is considered to be bastion of Shiv Sena.

In Mumbai, there appears to be a dispute in at least two seats. While supporters of Shinde Sena corporator Yashwant Jadhav’s posters have been put up across South Mumbai projecting him as the constituency’s ‘future MP of Mumbai South constituency’ — Jadhav even met Shinde to discuss the same — BJP’s Rahul Narwekar has been vying for the seat and has also started campaigning.

In Vidharbha’s Ramtek, Shinde Sena leader Krupal Tumane is the sitting MP. However, the BJP wants to contest from the seat with its state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule openly making a statement that the saffron party “has a very strong network and hence deserves the seat”. Tumane, a two-term MP from Ramtek, is reluctant and has suggested that Eknath Shinde should take an appropriate call on the matter.

In Nashik, Shrikant Shinde has announced the candidature of sitting MP Hemant Godse even before seat-sharing talks concluded. In the tribal constituency of Gadchiroli as well, the BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP appear to be set to lock horns.

Opposition MVA struggling too

The MVA has been discussing its seat-sharing formula for the last two months, despite which issues regarding around eight Lok Sabha seats are yet to be sorted out.

The Congress and Sena (UBT) have been fighting over the Sangli Lok Sabha seat in western Maharashtra and both sides have already declared their respective candidates. The Congress wants former chief minister Vasantdada Patil’s grandson Vishal to enter the fray while the Uddhav Sena has declared wrestler Chandrahar Patil as the candidate.

Similarly, in Vidarbha region’s Ramtek (SC seat), Bhiwandi, Buldhana, Mumbai North Central and Mumbai South Central, these two parties have been unable to arrive at a decision. The undivided Shiv Sena had won four of these five seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, with only Bhiwandi going to the BJP. However, under the changed political situation, the Congress has sought to contest Ramtek, Bhiwandi and one of the two Mumbai seats but Uddhav Thackeray is yet to agree. Local Congress leaders have blamed the party leadership for failing to be assertive in seat negotiations.

Former Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam has publicly criticised Uddhav for declaring Amol Kirtikar as the party candidate from Mumbai North Central amid speculations that Nirupam might switch to the other side. Nirupam has denied such reports.

In the case of Wardha and Bhandara-Gondiya, the Congress and NCP (SP) are reportedly still negotiating. While Congress sources claimed that the seat in Vidarbha region has been cleared for the party, it is yet to announce a candidate. Meanwhile, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has sought the Wardha seat in Vidarbha despite lacking a winnable candidate. Sources said that a former Congress MLA is likely to switch sides to contest for the ally.