Marking a shift from its earlier approach, the BJP has nominated four Muslim candidates in the city. Political observers link this change in strategy partly to the influence of former Congress MLA Kailash Gorantyal, who recently joined the BJP and has been actively working to consolidate Muslim support
Marking a shift from its earlier approach, the BJP has nominated four Muslim candidates in the city. Representational Pic
Ahead of the January 15 civic elections in Maharashtra’s Jalna city, the Mahayuti allies, the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, are making a concerted push to court Muslim voters by fielding candidates from the community, according to the news agency PTI.
Marking a shift from its earlier approach, the BJP has nominated four Muslim candidates in the city. Political observers link this change in strategy partly to the influence of former Congress MLA Kailash Gorantyal, who recently joined the BJP and has been actively working to consolidate Muslim support.
While the Mahayuti partners were initially expected to contest the elections jointly, the alliance fell apart at the eleventh hour following disagreements over seat-sharing. The Jalna Municipal Corporation comprises 65 electoral wards.
As per PTI, Muslim voters account for nearly 20 to 25 per cent of the electorate in Jalna and wield decisive influence in wards 2, 4, 10 and 11.
Among the other Mahayuti partners, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has fielded seven Muslim candidates, while the NCP, headed by Ajit Pawar, has nominated 17 candidates from the community.
On the other side, the opposition Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), is contesting the elections as an alliance. The Congress has fielded 51 candidates, including 19 Muslims. Shiv Sena (UBT), despite contesting 13 seats, has not allotted any tickets to leaders from the community, while the NCP (SP) has nominated two Muslim candidates.
Meanwhile, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has decided to contest 17 seats in Muslim-dominated areas of Jalna. Its district president, Shaikh Majeed, said people are looking for an alternative and that AIMIM represents their aspirations.
Denied ticket, Shiv Sena leader Rajendra Sapte leads protest march in Thane
Former Thane deputy mayor and Shiv Sena leader Rajendra Sapte took out a protest march after being denied a ticket for the January 15 civic polls in the city.
Sapte, who had sought to contest from ward number 25 (Kalwa), missed out after the seat was allotted to the BJP under the seat-sharing arrangement, reported news agency PTI.
The Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has entered into an alliance with the BJP for the January 15 Thane civic polls.
A staunch loyalist of the late Anand Dighe, Shinde’s mentor and an immensely popular leader in the undivided Shiv Sena, Sapte led a protest march from Kalwa to Dighe’s memorial on Thursday.
According to the PTI, he accused the BJP of taking Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde by surprise and using “blackmail” tactics to secure the Kalwa seat at the eleventh hour. Sapte was earlier elected from Kalwa for four consecutive terms.
The nomination process for the elections began on December 23 and ended on December 30. While January 2 (Friday) is the last date for the withdrawal of nominations, the final list of candidates will be published on January 3.
Elections to 29 municipal corporations in the state, including the Thane civic body, will be held on January 15, and votes will be counted the following day.
(With PTI inputs)
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