Dispute with lesser allies could cost MBA 7 seats | Mumbai News

Mumbai: As the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) grapples with differences among its three main partners – Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP) – over seat distribution and selection of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections, disputes with more minor allies in an alliance such as the Peasants’ Workers’ Party (PWP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) could worsen its electoral prospects by at least seven seats. According to insiders, the controversy arose from attempts by top MBA management to settle scores with smaller allies.

The TDP has only one sitting MLA in Shyamsunder Shinde from Loha constituency in Nanded district. But it has a strong base in Raigad district, especially in Alibag, Pen, Uran and Panvel assembly segments. It also has a significant presence in Sangola constituency in Solapur district.

While the PRP had demanded these six seats in talks with the MVA and subsequently announced candidates for all of them, the Shiv Sena (UBT) too went ahead and announced candidates for these seats.

In Alibag, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has fielded Surendra Mhatre while the PWP has fielded Chitralekha Patil. In Pena, PWP has fielded Atul Mhatre while Sena (UBT) has fielded Prasad Bhoir. In Uran, PWP has fielded Pritam Patil and Shiv Sena (UBT) has fielded Manohar Bhoir, while in Panvel, PWP has fielded Balaram Patil and Shiv Sena (UBT) has fielded Leena Garad. Similarly, in Sangola, the PWP has fielded Babasaheb Deshmukh while the Shiv Sena’s (UBT) candidate is Deepak Salunkhe, while in Loja, the PWP has fielded its sitting MLA Shyamsunder Shinde and the Shiv Sena (UBT) has fielded Eknath Pawar.

The main reason for the Shiv Sena (UBT) fielding candidates in all six seats is the defeat of Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Anant Geeta during the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, sources said.

“Party chief Uddhav Thackeray believed that Geete was defeated by NCP member Sunil Tatkare because the PRP leadership did not support him enough. That is why he withdrew support to PPR general secretary Jayant Patil during the legislative council elections, which led to his defeat. For the same reason, he has also decided to field candidates for the PDP-claimed seats in the assembly elections,” said a party leader.

PWP leader Raju Korde said he is hopeful of a seat-sharing agreement with the Shiv Sena (UBT) for Raigad and Sangola seats. “During the Lok Sabha elections, we helped the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Raigad and south central Mumbai. Now they should consider our claims to the seats,” Corday said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said his party will look into the PWP’s claims on some seats in Raigad.

Meanwhile, the Congress has locked horns with the CPI(M), another MVA partner, in the central constituency of Solapur city. While the opposition alliance lost the Dahanu seat to incumbent CPI(M) Vinod Nikola and the Kalwan seat in Nashik to former CPI(M) Jiva Pandu Gavit in the Solapur city seat, the Congress has appointed Chetan Narote as its candidate. Former MLA Narsaiah Adam, who has a strong base, is the CPI(M) candidate from the seat.

“I will wait until November 4th. If the Congress does not withdraw its candidate, I will expose the people who are conspiring against me,” Adam told HT.

Another party functionary said that Narote, the Congress candidate, is a close aide of MP Praniti Shinde. “She came to us for support during her Lok Sabha campaign. But now her assistant has been given a ticket. Adam has spoken to Sharad Pawar and we hope he will resolve this tangle,” he said.