Maharashtra Election 2024: Rebel candidates remain a big problem for the ruling Mahayuti and opposition Mahavikas Aghadi alliance in the Maharashtra assembly elections. This time BJP is contesting the maximum number of seats in the state and on the last day of withdrawal of nominations, the party has succeeded in convincing its nine rebel candidates.
These also include former MP Gopal Shetty, who had filed his nomination as a rebel candidate from Borivali Assembly seat. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and many senior party leaders were trying to convince him, in which the party got success.
BJP succeeded in convincing former MP
The responsibility of convincing the rebel candidates was given to the party leaders by the BJP high command. In fact, the top leadership of the party believes that the party may have to suffer losses on many seats due to rebel candidates. For this reason, many party leaders were trying to convince the rebel candidates. Former MP Gopal Shetty did not get a ticket in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. This time, after being ignored in the assembly elections also, he had filed his nomination as a rebel candidate on Borivali seat. He had filed his nomination papers on October 29, the last day of nomination.
He said that this decision was not taken in the interest of ticket but after the concern of local workers. However, now he has agreed and has announced his support to the party’s official candidate Sanjay Upadhyay on Borivali seat. Many party leaders, including senior party leader Devendra Fadnavis and National Co-Organization Minister Shivprakash, had reached his house to pacify him.
Nominations of rebels withdrawn on these seats
Apart from Borivali seat, BJP leaders have succeeded in convincing rebel candidates on many other seats also. BJP has convinced its rebel candidates on Gadchiroli, Sangli, Guhagar, Mehkar, Pathardi, Buldhana, Khanapur and Karjat-Jamkhed assembly seats. The high command directly talked to many of these rebel candidates, while some rebel candidates were persuaded by state level BJP leaders. In this way, BJP has succeeded in convincing the rebel candidates on a total of nine seats in the state and this is being considered a good sign for the party.
Amazing game happened in Congress
This time in the assembly elections, the rebel candidates have created problems not only for BJP but also for Congress, both the factions of Shiv Sena and both the factions of NCP. However, Congress appeared to be lagging behind in convincing the rebel candidates. A huge drama was seen in Congress in Kolhapur North assembly seat.
Here, when Congress leaders could not convince their party’s rebel candidate Rajesh Latkar, the party fielded its official candidate Madhurima Raje. Now Rajesh Latkar will face the candidate of Shinde group. In many other seats also, Congress leaders proved unsuccessful in convincing the rebel candidates.
