Large-scale rebellion is not new to Maharashtra during the elections. With the possibility of the saffron alliance returning to power in the State being strong, the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena are facing the maximum brunt of rebels in the State Assembly polls, scheduled for October 11.
Two days ahead of the withdrawal of nominations, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had last week sent out stern message to message to rebels to opt to opt out of the fray and said that there would be no place for rebels in the BJP-led “Maha-Yuti” (grand alliance). On his party, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray — at his annual Dussehra rally — subsequently apologised to those party workers who have been denied tickets, in an effort to defuse rebellion within the party ranks over the distribution of tickets.
Both Fadnavis and Uddhav have not succeeded in reining in the rebels. There are an estimated 45 to 50 BJP-Sena rebels spread over 288 Assembly constituencies in the State. Though there are a very few rebels contesting against their party’s official candidates, the maximum rebellions have happened within the saffron alliance. In essence, there are many instances where the BJP candidates are contesting against the Shiv Sena’s official candidates or the vice versa.
Of the total 288, the BJP is contesting 150 seats, while the Shiv Sena has fielded candidates in 124 constituencies. Their allies are contesting the remaining 14 seats.
For instance in Vidarbha region, Shiv Sena’s Santosh Dawale is contesting as a rebel against BJP minister Madan Yerawar in Yavatmal constituency, while local BJP leader Sanjay Deshmukh is taking on Sena minister Sanjay Minister in Digras constituency. Sena’s former minister Ashok Shinde is contesting as a rebel against BJP’s sitting MLA Samir Kurniwar. In Ramtek, Shiv Sena’s former MLA Ashsish Jaiswal is making matters difficult for the BJP’s BJP’s sitting MLA Malinkarjun Reddy.
In north Maharashtra, Shiv Sena’s rebel Vilas Shinde is taking Seema Hire in Nashik (west) constituency, while Sena’s Jalgaon district president Chandrakant Patil is contesting as a rebel against senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse’s daughter Rohini Khadse in Muktainagar constituency. In the neighbouring Jalgaon (rural) constituency, Sena’s minister of state Gulabrao Patil is facing a BJP rebel Gulabrao Patil. There are two BJP rebels in Sakri and Shirpur in Dhule district.
There are rebels in Vasmat, Aurangabad (west), Nanded (south), Osmamabad ande a few other constituencies in Marthwada.
In Mumbai, Shiv Sena’s Rajul Patel has rebelled against BJP’s official candidate Bharati Laveka in Versova constituency, while Shiv Sena’s sitting MLA Trupti Sawant has rebelled against Sena’s official nominee and Mumbai Mayor Vishwqanath Mahadeshwar in Bandra (east). In Andheri (east), BJP man Murji Patel has rebelled against shiv Sena’s official candidate Ramesh Latke.
In Konkan region, the shiv Sena is contesting officially against BJP’s Nitesh Rane, son of former chief minister Narayan Rane. BJP’s sitting MLA Manda Mhatre, is taking on a rebel in Shiv Sena city chief Vijay Mane, in Bela constituency. BJP’s Ganpat Gaikwad is facing serious threat to his candidature from Sena leader Dhananjay Bodare in Kalyan (east). JP legislator from Chinchwad Laxman Jagtap is fighting out against Sena rebel Rahul Kalate. In Sawantwadi, BJP’s Rajan Teli has turned a rebel.
In western Maharashtra, there are at least ten to 12 strong rebels from either the Shiv Sena or the BJP in the fray.