In a development that exposed lack of consensus among the constituents of the ruling MahaYuti on certain issues Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday that the BJP was committed to supporting MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s son Amit Thackeray in Mumbai’s Mahim constituency where his party’s ally – the Shinde Shiv Sena – has put up a candidate.
To make matters more complicated, Raj went to town claiming that after the polls, the MNS -- which is not part of the pre-poll grand alliance -- would be part of the MahaYuti government headed by a BJP chief minister.
The positions taken by Fadnavis and Raj – in statements made in separate television interviews of a Marathi television channel have led to intense speculation within the state government that the BJP would no longer back current chief minister Eknath Shinde for the current term.
If anything, Fadnavis’ open declaration that the BJP “want to support Amit Thackeray” in Mahim constituency -- where the Shinde Sena has fielded sitting party MLA Sada Sarvankar in Mahim constituency against Amit Thackeray – has set the cat among the pigeons.
On his part, Fadnavis claimed that there was consensus between him and Eknath Shinde on supporting MNS candidate Amit Thackeray, who is making an electoral debut from Mahim.
‘I am told that leaders from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena argued that if the party does not contest the election, its traditional voters would shift to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). As far as we are concerned, we would like to support Amit. The BJP is still firm on its stand,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis, however, hastened to add: "When we (leaders of Mahayuti) meet, we will discuss and try to find a solution”.
Raj and Fadnavis have enjoyed close rapport over the years. The Raj Thackeray-led MNS, which did not contest the recent Lok Sabha polls, had extended its unconditional support to the BJP-led NDA in the LS polls.
If the Shinde does not withdraw the candidature of its candidate Sada Sarvankar – who is adamant on contesting the polls, then it will be a triangular contest among the Amit Thackeray, Sarvankar (Shide Sena) and Mahesh Sawant of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
On the other hand, while participating in a television programme, expressed confidence that the BJP-led MahaYuti would return to power in the state.
“The political situation in Maharashtra has changed vastly during the last three months. It now appears that the MahaYuti will come back to power in the State in the 2024 polls. One of the factors that contributed to the improved chances of the MahaYuti is the BJP’s victory in Haryana”.
The pre-poll alliance among the ruling MahaYuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) notwithstanding, “friendly fights” are being witnessed between the Yuti and MVA partners in at least 13 constituencies across the state. Full Clarity will come after the withdrawal of nominations on November 4.
From the MahaYuti, the ruling BJP is contesting 152 seats, while its allies have fielded candidates in 80 and 50 constitiences respectively. On the MVA front, the Congress is contesting 102 seats, while the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and NCP (Sharad Pawar) have nominated 96 and 87 seats respectively.
