Union minister Narayan Rane on Tuesday said the BJP should get to contest the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency as it has a significant base there, and expressed confidence that if the party fielded him from that seat the upcoming parliamentary elections, he would win it. Pics/Sameer Markande
Updated On: 2024-04-02 09:40 PM IST
Compiled by : Asif Ali Sayed
Currently, the seat is represented by Vinayak Raut, who belongs to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT)
This constituency, which covers two key coastal districts of Maharashtra, has traditionally been a bastion of the undivided Shiv Sena. After the party's split, Vinayak Raut supported the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction and he has been renominated by the party in the upcoming polls
Although Shinde-led Shiv Sena has staked its claim to the seat, the BJP has upped its ante, putting pressure on the ally
Talking to reporters against this backdrop, BJP leader Rane said, "The Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg parliamentary constituency has a significant BJP base, and we should get the seat. If the BJP fields me, I will not only contest but also win the seat for sure. No one should spoil this game now"
However, state Industries Minister Uday Samant, who is a close aide of CM Shinde, expressed confidence that the ruling Shiv Sena will win the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency by a margin of 2.5 lakh votes
"Shiv Sena has been contesting this seat for a long time, and we should get it. Our candidate will win by a margin of over a 2.5 lakh votes against the opposition nominee," he told reporters
The BJP, as well as Shiv Sena leaders, have organised meetings of party workers in both districts - Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg - to demonstrate support for their own candidates
