Maharashtra: Sparks fly between Shinde's Sena and BJP ahead of release of LS lists

MUMBAI: With BJP releasing its first list of 195 candidates for Lok Sabha (LS) polls, sparks have begun to fly between CM Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and BJP in Maharashtra ahead of the release of candidate lists for the state. No formal announcement of any seat sharing formula among Sena, BJP and NCP (Ajit Pawar) has been made. Sena wants to contest at least 18 seats, with several senior party MPs and leaders openly staking claim to key seats and even proclaiming that they would not campaign for BJP candidates in their areas. Such leaders include former Sena MP Anandrao Adsul, MP Gajanan Kirtikar and former minister Ramdas Kadam.

Adsul wants Amravati, but Mahayuti (grand alliance of BJP, Shinde-led Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP) is set to offer the ticket to sitting independent MP Navneet Rana. "Amravati LS seat belongs to Shiv Sena. So, I will contest from Amravati. Shiv Sena's candidate stood for election in 2019 when NDA was in alliance. Navneet Rana has a habit of saying whatever she wants. We are not used to talking like them," Adsul said. "Amravati constituency was never BJP's. Even if Rana joins BJP, will she get this constituency? We will not give up our claim; we will contest from here in any case."

Similarly, Kadam staked claim on Ratnagiri saying, "No matter what, we will not leave this constituency. BJP wants to survive by killing everyone. But it will not happen. We are two brothers; share what is ours but don't take what is mine... it won't work. This should not happen in Mahayuti. We will not leave Ratnagiri. It is our rightful place. Our candidate has been elected there."

Last week, senior Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar said the proposal of 12 seats (for Sena) was not acceptable.