Maharashtra: BJP to focus on seats won by Shiv Sena, opposition in 2014 Lok Sabha polls

In 2014 elections, BJP’s vote share was 27.3 per cent, followed by Sena (20.6 per cent), Congress (18.1 per cent), NCP (16 per cent) and Swabhimani Shektari Party (2.3 per cent). The remaining 15.7 per cent votes were shared by smaller parties and independents who failed to win any seat.

(Representational image)

WITH AN eye on the Lok Sabha polls next year, the BJP is likely to focus on 25 seats that were won by its ally Shiv Sena and Opposition parties in the 2014 elections. These included Sena’s 18 seats, Congress’ two , NCP’s four and Swabhimani Shetkari Party’s one seat. The rest of the seats were won by the BJP.

A BJP leader, on the condition of anonymity, said, “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will campaign in all 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. He will specially focus on 25 seats that were won by Shiv Sena and other parties in 2014… he will cover these seats in the next two months.” Though Fadnavis has expressed interest in allying with Sena again for the 2019 polls, the state BJP leadership wants to enhance the support base, the leader added.

In 2014 elections, BJP’s vote share was 27.3 per cent, followed by Sena (20.6 per cent), Congress (18.1 per cent), NCP (16 per cent) and Swabhimani Shektari Party (2.3 per cent). The remaining 15.7 per cent votes were shared by smaller parties and independents who failed to win any seat.

Asked why Fadnavis would campaign in these 25 seats, the leader said: “The CM will campaign in Shiv Sena, Congress, NCP and SSS seats to negate anti-BJP sentiments in public. These parties have been attacking the BJP governments both at the Centre and the state to undermine the electoral growth of the BJP.” Moreover, the party wants to project the development agenda of the BJP government across the state, he added.

The 18 Lok Sabha seats won by the Sena in 2014 are Shirdi, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, Osmanabad, Shirur, Maval, Raigad, Mumbai-South, Mumbai-South-Central, Mumbai North-West, Thane, Kalyan, Nashik, Auranagabad, Parbhani, Yavatmal, Ramtek, Amravati and Buldhana. While the Congress had won Hingoli and Nanded seats in Marathwada, the NCP bagged Satara, Kolhapur, Madha and Baramati. Swabhimani Shektari Party chief Raju Shetti represents the Hathkanangle in western Maharashtra.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram