Maharashtra MLC elections: Mahayuti faces seat-sharing friction ahead of MLC polls

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde dismissed reports of differences within Mahayuti. FILE PIC

The election for 17 state Legislative Council seats through local civic body constituencies is exposing growing unease within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Differences over seat-sharing have brought internal tensions to the surface, not only between the BJP, the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party, but also within these parties themselves.

All is not well?

The last day of nomination filing exposed underlying tensions within the Mahayuti alliance. In Raigad, candidates from the Shinde Sena filed nominations despite the seat being allotted to Ajit Pawar's NCP faction, while in Nashik, a BJP candidate entered the fray even though the seat had gone to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Similar scenes played out in Amravati and Solapur, reflecting unease among alliance partners over seat-sharing.

Differences downplayed

Mahayuti leaders maintained that there was no cause for concern and expressed confidence that all disputes would be resolved before June 4 - the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

Shinde confident

The Dy CM dismissed reports of differences within the ruling alliance and expressed confidence that the Mahayuti alliance would win all 17 seats.

Dates to remember

>> Last date for filing nomination: June 1
>> Last date for withdrawal: June 4
>> Polling date: June 18
>> Counting: June 22