New Delhi: Distribution of tickets is the trickiest part of any election. Choosing the right and winnable candidate, but without hurting the ego of other ticket aspirants is the hallmark of good ticket distribution by any party. And just like in the recent Haryana assembly elections, this seems to be missing in Maharashtra. With filing of nomination for the Maharashtra polls drawing to a close on Tuesday evening, as per some media reports, there are about 150 rebels in the fray from both the alliances – Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). With November 4 as the deadline for withdrawing nominations, the leaders of both the alliances have only six days to placate their rebels.
Meanwhile, the Mahayuti (BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP) have divided 284 out of the total 288 seats between themselves while leaving four seats for the smaller parties. Of these, BJP is contesting on the maximum 152 seats, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on 80 and Ajit Pawar’s NCP on 52 seats. In comparison, Congress will be contesting the maximum 103 seats in the MVA (286), followed by 96 by Shiv Sena (UBT) and 87 by Sharad Pawar-led NCP. The parties will also give some seats from their individual quotas to smaller parties like Samajwadi Party and CPM.
However, considering the tons of rebels in the field, the headache for the two alliances is far from over. Besides, the ruling Mahayuti also finds itself in a friendly fight on at least five seats while the MVA is in a similar situation on at least seven seats.
Mahayuti troubles
Within the Mahayuti, the Shiv Sena and NCP found themselves in a friendly fight in three constituencies of – Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar (Mumbai), Purandar (Pune) and Dindori (Nashik). The BJP and NCP are fighting in Morshi (Amaravati) and Ashti (Beed). Meanwhile, the prominent rebel in Mahayuti includes BJP’s Gopal Shetty who has filed nomination from Borivali against the party’s official candidate Sanjay Upadhyay. Senior NCP leader and Cabinet Minister Chhagan Bhujbal’s nephew Sameer has also filed his papers as an independent candidate from Nandgaon constituency in Nashik. Shiv Sena’s sitting MLA Suhas Kande is the official candidate of the Mahayuti here. In Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar, despite BJP requesting Ajit Pawar to not field Nawab Malik because of corruption allegations against him, Malik filed his papers. Shiv Sena has already announced the candidature of Suresh Patil from the seat. Who will back down? SP State President Abu Azmi is the sitting MLA from the seat.
In Morshi, NCP has given ticket to its MLA Devendra Bhuyar, while BJP has fielded Umesh Yawalkar. In Dindori, Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal is the NCP candidate but Shiv Sena has fielded former Dhanraj Mahale.
Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)
The Opposition MVA is also not free from the malice of rebels and friendly fights. In fact, it has more trouble to tackle. Besides rebels, it has multiple candidates in Pandharpur, Solapur South, Sangola (Solapur district), Miraj (Sangli), Digras (Yavatmal), Dharavi (Mumbai) and Paranda (Dharashiv). Except for Dharavi, all these seats are with the Mahayuti presently.
Congress has fielded Mohan Vankhande from Miraj while alliance partner Shiv Sena (UBT) has given ticket to Tanaji Satpute. The Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar) are at odds over Solapur South where they have declared the candidature of Dilip Mane and Amar Patil respectively. This seat is held by BJP currently. In Pandharpur, Congress has fielded Bhagirath Bhalke while Anil Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT) is also making poll preparations.
Also, Uddhav’s party has given a ticket to Dilip Salunkhe from Sangola while ally Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) has announced the candidature of Dr Babasaheb Deshmukh. In Paranda, both Uddhav and Sharad Pawar’s candidates are in the fray. The seat is presently with Tanaji Sawant of Shiv Sena. Uddhav’s Sena (UBT) and Congress are also fighting over Digras where Pawan Jaiswal is taking on the Manikrao Thakre of Congress. Sanjay Rathod, minister in Maharashtra government is the sitting MLA from Digras.
Meanwhile, Jyoti Gaikwad of Congress had filed her nomination from Dharavi in Mumbai and was already busy making preparations. However, former MLA Baburao Mane of Shiv Sena (UBT) also jumped in and filed his papers on Tuesday. Jyoti’s sister Varsha Gaikwad has been winning the seat since 2004. Since she won the Lok Sabha this June, Jyoti was given the ticket.
Hopeful of resolving all intra-party disputes
Both the alliances have about a week to set their house in order and sort out the prevailing confusion. Although difficult, it is not an impossible task if the senior party leaders bend down a bit and call up the rebels to pacify them. Whichever alliance manages the rebels better, is likely to have better chances of victory. Meanwhile leaders from both the alliances like Devendra Fadnavis of BJP and Ramesh Chennithala have assured that all intra-party disputes will be resolved in due course.
