The tussle over seat distribution between Maha Vikas Aghadi and Mahayuti was going on till the last moment of filing nominations in Maharashtra Assembly elections. Congress expects more than 105 seats, although the party has announced the names of 102 candidates. 84 candidates have been declared from Shiv Sena (Uddhav), and 82 candidates have been declared from NCP (Sharad). The matter is stuck on 18 seats. Same is the situation in Mahayuti also. Candidates have been announced for a total of 260 seats from Mahayuti, out of which BJP has fielded 146 candidates, Shinde's Shiv Sena has fielded 65 candidates and Ajit Pawar's party has fielded 49 candidates. There is still suspense regarding 28 seats.
On Monday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, former CM Ashok Chavan's daughter Shree Jaya Chavan, Raj Thackeray's son Amit Thackeray, Nawab Malik's daughter Sana Malik, Baba Siddiqui's son Zeeshan Siddiqui, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Many leaders like Azmi filled the nomination papers. Sharad Pawar himself arrived to submit the nomination of his grandson Yugendra Pawar against Ajit Pawar. During this period, there were reports of rebellion in the parties.
This time the most interesting election battle will be in Baramati. Sharad Pawar's family is face to face. From Mahayuti's side is Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar and from Mahavikas Aghadi's side is Sharad Pawar's grandson and Ajit Pawar's nephew Yugendra Pawar. Ajit Pawar has been the MLA on this seat since 1991, i.e. for 33 years continuously. He has won the elections 7 times but this time for the first time he is contesting the elections by separating from Sharad Pawar and forming a separate party.
Ajit Pawar did a road show on Monday. After submitting the nomination, Ajit Pawar said that family disputes should be resolved within the four walls and this responsibility lies with the elders of the house. Ajit Pawar said that the mistake he had made by fielding his wife Sunetra against Supriya Sule in the Lok Sabha elections, this time Sharad Pawar has made the same mistake by fielding Yugendra. Ajit Pawar said that he was punished for his mistake in the Lok Sabha elections, now the people of Baramati will punish Sharad Pawar in the assembly elections. After filling the nomination, Yugendra did not say anything about Ajit Pawar. He said that Sharad Pawar is his guru, guide and he will try to follow the path shown by him.
The result of Baramati will prove to be a game changer for Ajit Pawar's political career while for Sharad Pawar, Baramati is a question of prestige. Only the decision of Baramati will decide whose real NCP is. That is why Baramati elections will be interesting this time. Like Baramati, Mahavikas Aghadi has tried to corner Eknath Shinde in Thane. Eknath Shinde filed nomination for Kopri Pachpakhari seat of Thane. On this seat, Uddhav Shiv Sena has fielded Kedar Dighe, nephew of Eknath Shinde's political guru Anand Dighe. Eknath Shinde claimed that nothing is done by mere name, the public sees the work. Shinde showed his strength by doing a road show in Thane. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis was present in this procession.
Devendra Fadnavis said that one does not become an heir just because of blood relation, the heir is the one who takes his idea forward and Eknath Shinde has done the work of taking Anand Dighe's idea forward. Eknath Shinde has been winning the Kopri Pachpakhari seat continuously since 2009. His victory margin has increased every time in the three elections. In the last election he got more than sixty-five percent votes. Thane is considered the stronghold of Eknath Shinde.
This time the contest on Mahim seat of Mumbai will also be interesting. Amit Thackeray, son of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray, is contesting for the first time. Uddhav Thackeray has given ticket to Mahesh Sawant against Raj Thackeray's son. Amit Thackeray also congratulated Uddhav Thackeray's son and his cousin Aditya Thackeray, who is contesting from Worli, but Raj Thackeray's family is angry that Uddhav has fielded a candidate against his nephew. In fact, when Aditya Thackeray contested the elections in 2019, Raj Thackeray did not field a candidate from Worli seat but Uddhav did not do so. Therefore, Raj Thackeray's wife Sharmila said that it is his tradition that he had given a walkover to Aditya, now if Uddhav did not follow that tradition, then MNS has also fielded a candidate against Aditya from Worli this time.
This time in the Maharashtra elections, very interesting pictures of family fights have been seen. Ajit Pawar, whom Sharad Pawar had made his successor after winning the election in Baramati 33 years ago, now the same Sharad Pawar wants to defeat the same Ajit Dada by his grandson. He wants to tell who is the real grandfather of the Pawar family. Eknath Shinde, whom Anand Dighe made his successor in Thane, is being challenged by the nephew of the same Anand Dighe. Raj Thackeray, who considered himself the successor of Balasaheb Thackeray, his son is in the election field and elder brother Uddhav is trying to defeat his nephew.
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Image Credit: India-Tv.