Nominations in Maharashtra Assembly elections are over. Now the campaign has started gaining momentum, but the rebel candidates in the fray are increasing the tension. Be it the ruling Mahayuti or the opposition Mahavikas Aghadi alliance. There are about 50 candidates from both sides who are on the path of rebellion. Now only 3 more days are left to convince them because November 4 is the last date for withdrawal of nominations.
Talking about ruling Shinde group's Shiv Sena, BJP and Ajit Pawar group's NCP, around 36 rebel candidates are in the fray. In this, there are 9 candidates from Shinde faction's Shiv Sena who have filed nominations even after not getting tickets. This includes Airoli in Navi Mumbai, Andheri East in Mumbai, Belapur in Thane and Pechora seat in Jalgaon district.
Of all these, Andheri East seat is being discussed the most. Sankti Sharma, wife of former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, has also contested from here. Sankta Sharma had joined Shinde faction's Shiv Sena a few months ago. Since then, discussion about his ticket had also started, but at the last moment, Shinde surprised everyone by fielding BJP leader Murji Patel from here. There is talk in the political circles that Shinde group is trying to convince him for acceptance, but he is not ready to accept.
On the other hand, there are about 10 candidates of BJP who have taken a rebellious stand and have filed nomination against the Shiv Sena candidate of Shinde faction. Seats like Raigarh's Karjat, Buldhana, Mumbai suburb's Boriwali, Alibaug and Jalna are included. The party high command is busy convincing the remaining BJP leaders who have filed nominations on all these seats. It is being said that Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis himself is busy convincing the rebel leaders.
Similar is the condition of Ajit Pawar group's NCP. The party's rebel candidate has filed nomination from Nandgaon seat of Nashik. Apart from this, there are about 9 such seats where BJP candidates have defeated NCP candidates while on 7 Shiv Sena rebel leaders have filed their nominations. The situation has become such that the leaders of the parties involved in the grand alliance are keeping an eye on the state high command. Pressure is being exerted to stop the rebels and withdraw the nomination.
Mahavikas Aghadi in the state has also not remained untouched by the rebel leaders. Four rebel Congress leaders have sounded the alarm against the candidates of the alliance partners. This includes Kopri Pachpakhadi seat of Thane, Bykul of Mumbai and Ramtek seat of Nagpur.
At present, efforts are being made by the party to convince the rebel leaders. The rebel leader of Shiv Sena of Uddhav Thackeray faction has put MVACO in tension by filing nomination on Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat. Even on the seats of Versova and Buldhana, the rebel leader has posed a new challenge to the alliance.
If seen this way, the ruling Mahayuti as well as the opposition Mahavikas Aghadi now have only 3 days left to convince their respective leaders. If the high command convinces these leaders in these three days, then it will be fine, otherwise the direction and condition of Maharashtra politics may change.
