2 BJP rebels, 6 from Sena to pull out of MLC elections race

Mumbai: Days of unease within Mahayuti over Raigad and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar seats for MLC elections ended as the kin of two Sena MLAs decided to pull out of the race after alliance netas swung into damage control mode. Thursday is the last day for nomination withdrawal.

Even as Mahayuti was locked in negotiations last week, Sena MLA Mahendra Dalvi’s daughter, Juili, had filed her nomination from Raigad as an independent and MLA Abdul Sattar’s son, Sameer, entered the fray from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Sena had reportedly eyed seven of the 17 seats that go to polls on June 18 but ended up with only four. Raigad went to NCP and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to BJP.

Sena’s Viplav Bajoria, Reshma Kale, Deepak Dhande and Tanaji Patil were other key rebels who announced withdrawal of their candidatures.

BJP managed to pacify two of its own rebels—Ganesh Geete and Gokul Geete, who had filed their nominations as independents from the Nashik seat, which falls in Sena’s kitty.

MVA has no candidate in Nashik as both Sena (UBT) faces—Vasant Gite and Anil Kadam—backed out. Rebutting the charge that the party failed to even put up a fight in the constituency, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, “Vasant Gite and Anil Kadam had submitted applications as per the party’s instructions. There is a difference between submitting an application and filing it. The enthusiasm that should be seen for candidacy was not seen... We were not kept in the dark while deciding not to field a candidate. Discussions were held with party leaders.”

Asserting that the MLC polls “are not going to change the politics of the state”, he said, “Whoever wants to contest will contest. Our policy was not to hold unopposed elections. We filed nominations in many places. If someone had come forward in Nashik, we would have definitely stood behind them.”

Of the 17 seats, BJP is contesting 11 and NCP two.