In a significant political maneuver, the Shiv Sena, under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has decided to give its former Lok Sabha MPs a chance to contest in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. This move aims to underscore the party’s commitment to those who switched allegiance from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena to Shinde’s faction. Additionally, it serves as a message to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has reportedly been pressuring the Shiv Sena to withhold tickets from certain MPs based on adverse survey reports.
Among the names being floated for the upcoming elections are Bhavna Gawali and Kripal Tumane, both recently elected to the state legislative council. Despite Gawali being denied a ticket from the Yavatmal-Washim constituency and Tumane from Ramtek Lok Sabha, their potential candidacies for the Assembly are seen as a strategic move to strengthen the party’s presence. Gawali has expressed interest in contesting from the Risod constituency in Washim district. “If elected, the party will have seasoned faces in the Assembly,” a senior Shiv Sena leader mentioned to FPJ.
Other potential candidates include Hemant Godse, who lost from Nashik, and Hemant Patil, who was denied the ticket from Hingoli Lok Sabha. Both are poised to make a bid in the state elections. However, Rahul Shevale, who lost to Anil Desai from Mumbai South Central, might not contest this time as he has been actively involved in party coordination at the national level. “I am happy with my current job,” Shevale commented when asked about his plans.
The party appears to be strategically negotiating constituency allocations with partners in the Mahayuti alliance. Sanjay Mandlik, who faced defeat in Kolhapur against Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, is also expected to be fielded in the Assembly elections. Shinde’s camp remains optimistic about securing the desired constituencies for their former Lok Sabha members. “Negotiations are underway with the partners in Mahayuti, and we are optimistic that the constituencies demanded for our former Lok Sabha members will be allocated in our favor,” a close aide to Shinde stated.
This move is not only an effort to consolidate support within the party but also to showcase a strong front in the face of alleged pressure from the BJP. By giving these former MPs a platform, the Shiv Sena hopes to retain experienced politicians in the Assembly, strengthening the party’s foothold in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
