Unlike opposition, Maharashtra BJP & allies argue over seats behind closed doors

Mumbai: It is not just the Congress and Sena (UBT) which are bickering over the seat-sharing formula for the Lok Sabha elections, but also the opposite grouping comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit). The only difference with the BJP grouping is that the tussle is happening behind closed doors.The BJP wants to contest in more than what it contested in 2019 (25). It is eyeing some seats of its allies, especially that of the Shiv Sena (Shinde). While the Shiv Sena (Shinde) has claimed that the three parties will contest in those seats that they contested in 2019, the BJP and NCP leaders claim that the seat-sharing formula has not been decided. The BJP is looking to contest in at least six seats that were held by the Shiv Sena, one of them being the Mumbai south constituency. There are several seats which all the three parties are interested in.

For instance, take the Maval Lok Sabha constituency. Shiv Sena’s Shrirang Barne had won the seat in 2019 defeating NCP leader Ajit Pawar’s son Parth Pawar. Barne, who has joined the Eknath Shinde faction, is hopeful of getting a ticket from the constituency. However, the local leadership of the NCP and the BJP are putting pressure on their respective parties by publicly laying claim for the seat.

In Shirur, NCP’s (Sharad Pawar) Amol Kolhe is contesting again — a seat which the NCP (Ajit) as well as the Sena (Shinde) group is keen on contesting. Former Shirur MP from the Shiv Sena (Shinde) Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil whom Kolhe had defeated in 2019 is looking to contest from the Shiv Sena again. According to Sena leaders, Patil has even sounded out the Ajit faction of the NCP to be their candidate if they get the seat. Similarly, Ajit Pawar has already announced that the party would contest the Satara Lok Sabha seat, which is currently being represented by NCP’s (Sharad Pawar faction) Shriniwas Patil. Patil had defeated BJP’s Udayanraje Bhosale last time.