Maharashtra’s political arena has seen several ups and downs in both the ruling and the Opposition coalitions. In fact, coalitions have been the key factor in Maharashtra. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, an unlikely alliance of the Congress, the Shiv Sena, and the NCP, led to the rise of Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Minister. Again, the Mahayuti, another alliance of the divided Shiv Sena and the fractured NCP led to Thackeray’s fall and Eknath Shinde’s rise as the CM. The key to these alliances was the switching of loyalties of the Maharashtra MLAs.
Before the 2019 Assembly elections, many leaders from Congress and NCP joined the BJP, which turned it into a one-sided election on paper. However, chief of the then undivided NCP, Sharad Pawar, launched a massive campaign and won the elections and Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray became the CM.
However, his government was shortlived as a number of MLAs switched loyalties and rebelled, electing Shinde as the legislative assembly. The MVA was further weakened as a number NCP MLAs rebelled against Sharad Pawar and joined Ajit Pawar, propelling him to the Deputy CM’s chair from the post of Leader of Opposition last year.
Now, ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly election, Maharashtra’s political environment appears to be in a state of uncertainty.
Many leaders are seen switching parties overnight for the assembly polls tickets, while parties are also readily providing tickets to disgruntled leaders of other outfits. The Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena-UBT, and NCP-SP, is contesting against the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which includes BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. Although these alliances are competing together, some candidates have been fielded against members of their allies in some constituencies. As many as 12 senior BJP leaders have joined Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and have been given tickets, leading to a friendly fight on several seats.
BJP Leaders Who Joined Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena
The following are the BJP leaders who switched their loyalties to the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) from the BJP and will be contesting the Maharashtra Assembly polls on Sena tickets.
- Former Union Minister Narayan Rane’s son and former MP Nilesh Rane joined Shiv Sena Shinde and has received a ticket from Kudal-Malvan.
- Former Union Minister Raosaheb Danve’s daughter Sanjana Jadhav is also in the Shiv Sena Shinde now and will contest the Kannad Assembly seat.
- Rajendra Gavit is contesting the Palghar Assembly constituency.
- Vilas Tare will fight from Boisar.
- Santosh Shetty, who recently left BJP for Shinde Sena, has been fielded from the Bhiwandi East constituency.
- Murji Patel will fight from the Andheri East Assembly.
- Amol Khatal joined the Shiv Sena after the BJP denied him a ticket, and he has been given a ticket from the Sangamner Assembly seat.
- Senior BJP leader Shaina NC joined Shiv Sena Shinde before the assembly elections and has been fielded from the Mumba Devi seat.
- Digvijay Bagal, another leader who left the BJP for Shiv Sena Shinde, will contest from the Karmala Assembly seat.
- Baliram Shirasakar has also been fielded by Shiv Sena Shinde.
Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar has given tickets to leaders who joined the NCP from the BJP, including Rajkumar Badole, Pratap Patil Chikhlikar, Nishikant Patil, and Sanjay Kaka Patil.
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