Maharashtra
Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Amid Strains With INDIA bloc, Samajwadi Party Decides To Go Solo
Mumbai: In a move that underscores deepening fissures within the INDIA bloc alliance, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced it will field candidates independently in Maharashtra.
Earlier discussions were aimed at securing 12 seats for SP within the alliance in Maharashtra, but the party opted to proceed with its own slate of candidates with no conclusive agreement in sight.
SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav’s “Ekla Chalo Re” Strategy
The decision reflects SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s adoption of an “Ekla chalo re” or “Go it alone” strategy to broaden SP’s influence outside of its Uttar Pradesh stronghold, signalling a readiness to assert independence where alliances do not serve its ambitions.
In Maharashtra, SP has fielded candidates for 10 seats after Congress, leading the Maha Vikas Aghadi, did not accommodate its requests. Two of these seats were previously won by the SP and could risk vote splits. Political analyst Nomita P Kumar from the Giri Institute of Development Studies noted, “Unlike the NDA, the INDIA bloc contends with inter-party tensions rooted in overlapping voter bases and diverse political priorities.”
Maharashtra
Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Manoj Jarange-Patil Won’t Play Poll Spoiler; Asks His Candidates To Withdraw Their Nominations
Pune: In a dramatic move, the top leader of the Maratha reservation agitation, Manoj Jarange-Patil, announced on Monday that he had decided to stay away from active electoral politics and asked all his candidates to withdraw their nominations for the assembly polls on November 20.
Around 17 candidates had filed nominations as Independents, calling themselves supporters of Jarange-Patil in the Marathwada region; the exact number of candidates is not known. It was widely expected that these candidates would eat into the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s voter base and would indirectly benefit the BJP-led Mahayuti. Now, with Jarange-Patil’s withdrawal, Maratha candidates fielded in Marathwada by the Sharad Pawar NCP and Eknath Shinde Shiv Sena will benefit, as a division of the Maratha community votes will mostly be avoided.
Statement Of Maratha Quota Activist Manoj Jarange-Patil
“There is no point in fighting elections as we have realised that the chances of our candidates winning are slim. I don’t want my young candidates and the Maratha community to be disappointed with losses. Our candidates not winning will be a psychological blow to our people. I have taken the decision to withdraw from the polls as I feel electoral politics is not our business, But our agitation for the rights of the Maratha community and our fight for the demand of reservation for the community will continue. I have decided to ask all my candidates to withdraw their nominations. Now I am not supporting any candidate or any party. People should vote as they wish. But they should ensure that those who are against our demand for reservation are defeated,” JarangePatil told the media at a conference held on Monday morning, hours before the deadline to withdraw nominations.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024
In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it was evident that the Maratha reservation agitation had caused a lot of damage to the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. All of the Marathwada region was fired up by the Maratha reservation agitation and the Mahayuti lost all but the one seat of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where Eknath Shinde’s candidate, Sandipan Bhumre, won the polls. This time, the Mahayuti has been cautious, going mainly with Maratha candidates in most of the 46 seats in Marathwada.
The Shinde Shiv Sena is contesting 16 of these 46 seats, with almost all candidates being Marathas, while the Sharad Pawar NCP is contesting 15 seats, having fielded all Maratha faces. It is obvious that now, with the possibility of Maratha votes staying undivided, Shinde and Sharad Pawar will be the biggest gainers of Jarange-Patil’s decision to withdraw from the race. The BJP has fielded a combination of Maratha and OBC candidates in the region, while the Ajit Pawar NCP has mainly focussed on western Maharashtra in their candidate list.
In the initial days of Jarange-Patil’s agitation, he was flanked by Rajesh Tope and other leaders from Jalna who are close to Sharad Pawar; however, in recent phases of the agitation, some of Eknath Shinde’s leaders have been seen discussing strategy with Jarange-Patil, giving rise to speculation about whether he was influenced at various times, by Sharad Pawar’s deputies and Eknath Shinde.
Both Sharad Pawar and Eknath Shinde have repeatedly denied in the media that they have had anything to do with the agitation. NCP leader Ajit Pawar has been keeping away entirely, even avoiding visits to Jarange-Patil’s agitation sites. The Maratha quota stir has gained a lot of ground in the past two years, with its impact majorly seen in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Tension Mounts In MVA Camp As Some Rebels Refuse To Withdraw Nominations
Mumbai: November 4 was a crucial day for the Maharashtra assembly elections, marking the final deadline for candidates to withdraw nominations by 3.00 pm. Senior leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) worked to persuade rebel candidates to step down. While some complied, others remained resolute.
On Monday afternoon, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar held a press conference, warning that strict action would follow if rebels did not withdraw.
Abrupt volte-face in Kolhapur
In the Kolhapur North constituency, the Congress had initially nominated Madhurima Raje, the daughter-in-law of MP Shahu Maharaj Chhatrapati. However, on Monday, Raje withdrew her nomination, putting the MVA in a difficult position, as they no longer have an official candidate there. This withdrawal led to frustration from Satej Patil, who had been working to address internal conflicts.
In particular, Patil had been trying to persuade rebel Congress leader Rajesh Latkar to step down. Patil expressed anger over Madhurima Raje’s withdrawal, saying, “If she didn’t intend to run, why did she file the nomination at all?” Now, with Raje’s exitt MVA will support Congress rebel Rajesh Latkar, said Congress state president Nana Patole.
Grim situation in Versova
In Versova, the Shiv Sena (UBT) continues to face rebellion. Former councilor Raju Pednekar has filed his nomination as an independent candidate, despite the party officially nominating Haroon Khan. Pednekar has not withdrawn his independent nomination, leading to a three-way contest between BJP’s Bharati Lavekar, MVA’s Haroon Khan and independent candidate Raju Pednekar.
Relief in Byculla and Dharavi
In the Byculla Assembly constituency, despite the MVA officially nominating Manoj Jamsutkar from Shiv Sena (UBT), former Congress MLA Madhu Chavan filed his nomination as an independent. Similarly, in Dharavi, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s former MLA Baburao Mane filed his candidacy as an independent against Congress’ Jyoti Gaikwad. However, both rebel candidates, Chavan and Mane, eventually withdrew their nominations, resolving the internal conflicts in these constituencies. Cong dissent in Shinde’s bastion In the Pachpakhadi-Kopri constituency of Thane, rebel Congress candidates Manoj Shinde and Suresh Patil Khede have kept their nominations in place. This constituency, which is represented by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has seen internal Congress dissent. In this area, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Kedar Dighe is the official candidate for the MVA alliance.
Setback in Pen, Panvel
In Pen and Panvel Assembly constituencies have not withdrawn their nominations. However, in the Alibaug constituency, Surendra Mhatre, the official candidate from the Thackeray faction, has stepped down after receiving a direct call from Thackeray himself instructing him to withdraw. Although similar orders were given to the candidates in Pen and Panvel, they refused to withdraw, showing that the rebellion within the Thackeray group continues in those areas.
Hemlata Patil not in fray
Congress candidate Hemlata Patil has finally withdrawn her candidacy from the Nashik Central Assembly constituency. She had planned to run as an independent due to her dissatisfaction with the MVA’s decision to nominate Sena (UBT)’s Vasant Gite for this seat. Feeling sidelined, Dr Patil initially filed her nomination to contest independently but has now decided to step back.
Ahmednagar City rebel resolute The Ahmednagar City Assembly seat has been allocated to Abhishek Kalmkar from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). Although this constituency has traditionally been a Shiv Sena stronghold, the decision to give it to the NCP has caused dissatisfaction among Shiv Sena supporters. In response, Shashikant Gade, district chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), rebelled by filing his nomination. Despite being urged by senior leaders to withdraw, Gade has decided to stay in the race.
Rebel shock in Indapur
In Indapur, Harshvardhan Patil, who recently joined the NCP (SP) from the BJP, was given the official nomination. This decision upset party leader Praveen Mane, prompting him to file as an independent candidate. Sharad Pawar personally met Mane to address his concerns, but was unable to change his mind. Mane has decided to proceed with his independent candidacy, leading to a three-way contest in Indapur among Mahayuti’s Datta Bharane, MVAs Harshvardhan Patil, and independent Praveen Mane.
NCP(SP)’s rebel in place in Beed
In Beed district, the Mahayuti nominated Yogesh Kshirsagar, while Sharad Pawar’s NCP once again endorsed Sandeep Kshirsagar for this constituency. Yogesh and Kshirsagar are uncle and nephew. However, Jyoti Mete, who recently joined the party, rebelled and filed her nomination as an independent candidate. In the end, Sandeep Kshirsagar ~withdrew his nomination, but Jyoti Mete’s candidacy remained in place.
Cong, NCP(SP) rebel in Nagpur
In the Nagpur East constituency, the MVA has ceded the seat to NCP(SP) and field Duneswar Pathe for this seat. However, the situation has become tense as rebel candidates from both Congress and the NCP(SP) have refused to withdraw from the contest, increasing pressure on the MVA.
Maharashtra
RAIS SHAIKH DEMAND Stay the Love Jihad committee on interfaith marriages,Scrap the proposal of invadiating admissions of ITI tribal students by linking them with religion
Mumbai: For the ongoing Maharashtra Assembly Elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has written to Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) demanding to include common minorities program in the MVA manifesto to provide justice to the minority community. Some of the important demands include staying love jihad committee on interfaith marriages, scrapping government proposal of invadiating admissions of ITI students by linking them with religion, reservation for Muslims, and socio-economic survey of the Muslim community among others.
Rais Shaikh, SP legislator and MVA candidate from Bhiwandi (East), has written to the MVA leaders such as Prithviraj Chavan from Congress, Jayant Patil from NCP (SP) and Anil Desai from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on the same. In his letter to the MVA leaders, Shaikh has highlighted various issues concerning minority community and the need to address them.
Shaikh has said that the MVA, after coming to power, must examine and stay the Love Jihad Committee. BJP minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha had claimed that there are 1 lakh love jihad cases in the state. However, only over 400 complaints came before the committee, but not a single FIR has been registered in any of these complaints. Also, the proposal based on a committee which submitted a report suggesting to invalidate tribal students admissions in ITI by linking it with religion must be scrapped.
Shaikh has also advocated the need for Muslim reservation and stressed on conducting an extensive socio-economic survey of minority communities to ensure proportionate allocation of funds for various welfare schemes. “Minority students should be granted direct 100% scholarships, similar to those provided for SC, ST, and OBC students, instead of the existing educational loan facility,” added Shaikh.
Shaikh further said that like the Lok Sabha elections, the minority community will stand firmly behind the MVA in assembly elections. “The MVA government will come to power in the state and should implement these crucial issues concerning the minority community within the first 100 days of government,” said Shaikh.
Shaikh’s letter to the MVA leaders also highlighted other important issues such as implementation of various measures for the powerloom sector, enacting a law for the Gig workers, budgetary allocation of Rs 10,000 crore for the Muslim community, among other issues.
-
Maharashtra1 month ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Crime2 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra1 month ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News4 weeks ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
National News2 months ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface
-
Bollywood2 months ago
Aditya Roy Kapur, Anil Kapoor’s The Night Manager Gets Nominated In Emmys 2024
-
Bollywood1 year ago
Jawan Leaked Online! Shah Rukh Khan’s Film Falls Prey To Piracy Within Hours Of Release
-
Maharashtra3 weeks ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City