Uddhav attacks Modi-Shah at Palghar rally; Mahayuti allies yet to decide on Palghar candidate

“Moreover, I would like to ask BJP, if we are so insignificant, why Modi and Shah’s speeches are incomplete without mentioning Bal Thackeray and Sharad Pawar? It is evident that BJP knows Sharad Pawar and Thackeray are the powers to reckon with in Maharashtra.

The blatant misuse of central agencies by the BJP leadership to wreck political parties and leaders has not gone down well with the masses in Maharashtra. They will give a befitting reply in the elections,” Thackeray said.

Thackeray also wondered how a general election of the country can be for Modi and not for Bharat. “Can any individual be bigger than the nation?” he asked. Exhorting people to bear in mind the dictatorial attitude of Modi-Shah that perceive people as their slaves, he said: “You have divested us of our party title and symbol. Yet we have the support of people.”

At the Thackeray rally, CPM workers turned up in large numbers holding red flag.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is heading the ruling Shiv Sena, is unwilling to concede the Palghar constituency to its alliance partner BJP. On the other hand, BJP believes it was the rightful claimant of the seat. Another intriguing factor which has complicated the assertion is Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, which is also flexing its muscle to have a greater say in constituency.

The BVA led by Hitendra Thakur has pledged outside support to the Mahayuti government in the state.

In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Shiv Sena candidate Rajendra Gavit was the winner. He had then contested and defeated Baliram Jadhav of BVA.

Earlier, in the 2018 by-elections held in Palghar, Rajendra Gavit was the BJP candidate who had then defeated undivided Shiv Sena candidate Shriniwas Vanga.

When the Palghar by-polls were held, BJP and undivided Shiv Sena were in a coalition government in Maharashtra. The by-polls were necessitated following death of senior tribal leader and MP Chintaman Vanga. In a dramatic turn of events, Thackeray’s party has succeeded in weaning away Vanga’s son Shrinivas Vanga to its side causing embarrassment to the BJP. On its part, BJP has fielded former Congress minister Rajendra Gavit for by-elections.

The former Congress tribal minister switched to BJP ahead of polls. The Palghar by-polls also marked the souring of relations between the saffron parties.

State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, “All the issues related to seat division within Mahayuti will get resolved soon. We don’t see much problem.”

The polling for the seat will be in the fifth phase on May 20.

The Palghar Lok Sabha constituency consists of six assembly segments–Dahanu-Vinod Nikole (CPM), Vikramgad-Sunil Bhusara (NCP), Palghar-Shrinivas Vanga (Shiv Sena), Boisar- Rajesh Patil (BVA), Nalasopara-Kshitij Thakur (BVA), Vasai-Hitendra Thakur (BVA).

The BVA, a regional party confined to three assembly segments, is crucial in determining the electoral outcome in Palghar constituency. Therefore, both BJP and Shiv Sena are trying to elicit their support in the tribal belt.