Maharashtra Election 2024: After the festival of Diwali, election campaigning has gained momentum in Maharashtra. In the direct contest between the ruling Mahayuti and the Mahavikas Aghadi Alliance (MVA), both the camps have put in full force. Today is considered very important in the Maharashtra elections because today is the last date for withdrawal of nominations. The party leaders have not yet been successful in convincing the rebel candidates who have fielded a large number of candidates from both the camps.
However, in the tough competition between the two camps, 36 assembly seats of Mumbai have become very important. Of these, Raj Thackeray’s party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has fielded its candidates on 25 seats. Due to MNS candidates, a big problem has arisen in front of Shinde faction of BJP and Shiv Sena. The distribution of votes on these 25 seats can prove to be a big threat to both the parties.
Support in Lok Sabha elections now scattered
During the Lok Sabha elections held a few months ago, no candidate was fielded by MNS. The party had announced support to NDA and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There was also talk of an alliance with MNS during the assembly elections but it could not happen. BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis was also in favor of an alliance with MNS but it could not be successful. However, despite this, BJP has said that it will support Raj Thackeray’s son on Mahim assembly seat. However, BJP’s ally Shinde faction has also fielded its candidate in this assembly constituency.
MNS candidates face trouble on 25 seats in Mumbai
Informed sources say that after talks on seat sharing in the alliance failed, MNS has created problems for BJP and Shinde faction on Mumbai assembly seats. There are 36 assembly seats in Mumbai. In Mumbai, BJP is contesting on 17 seats and Shinde group is contesting on 16 seats. MNS has fielded its candidates on 25 seats in Mumbai. Of these, 12 candidates have been fielded against BJP and 10 against Shinde faction of Shiv Sena.
Mahayuti has not fielded any candidate from Sewri assembly seat in Mumbai. MNS candidate Bala Nandgaonkar is the only contender for this seat with the support of the ruling alliance. Apart from this, MNS has fielded one candidate in Mumbai against RPI and one candidate against NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction.
MNS did not field candidates on seven seats
However, it is also true that MNS has not fielded candidates against BJP on seven assembly seats in Mumbai. These also include Colaba of Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar and Bandra West Assembly seat of Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar. MNS has made the contest on Mahim and Worli assembly seats of Mumbai very interesting.
In Mahim, MNS chief Raj Thackeray has fielded his son Amit Thackeray. Amit Thackeray is facing a tough challenge from Shinde group and Uddhav Sena. In Worli, Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aditya Thackeray is contesting against whom Shinde faction has fielded Rajya Sabha member Milind Deora. On this seat too, the MNS candidate is proving to be a problem.
Vote splitting can cause huge losses
With MNS contesting elections on 25 seats in Mumbai, the problems for the ruling coalition seem to be increasing. During the Lok Sabha elections, MNS had supported the ruling coalition, but the party’s changed stand during the Assembly elections is proving to increase the problems of the Grand Alliance. There is a big danger of division of votes of Marathi voters due to MNS candidates contesting the elections.
BJP was already understanding these dangers. Therefore, efforts were being made by the party to include MNS in the alliance but coordination could not be achieved regarding seats. Now the election results will reveal how big a threat the MNS candidates will pose to the ruling alliance.
