Urgent Move: Mahayuti MLAs Sheltered in Hotels to Prevent Cross-Voting Disaster in Council Elections
Political Maneuvering Returns to Maharashtra Amid Fears of Cross-Voting in Council Elections
Resort politics has resurfaced in Maharashtra after a two-year lull, with the BJP and its Mahayuti alliance partners relocating their MLAs to three Mumbai hotels to prevent cross-voting in the upcoming State Legislative Council elections. With the elections slated for Friday, the BJP moved its 103 MLAs to the Taj President in Cuffe Parade, while Chief Minister Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s 40 MLAs were taken to the sea-facing Taj Lands End in Bandra. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s NCP moved 40 members to The Lalit in Andheri.
Similarly, the Opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)—comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP)—relocated its 16 legislators to Hotel ITC Grand Central in Lower Parel. The MVA has fielded Uddhav Thackeray’s close aide Milind Narvekar as its third candidate, contesting for 11 seats in the Upper House against 12 candidates.
The Mahayuti alliance, which boasts over 200 MLAs including Independents in the 274-member Assembly, looked poised to win nine seats before the MVA surprised by adding a third candidate. The MVA, with 65 MLAs, needs an additional four votes to secure all three seats. They are relying on support from the Samajwadi Party (2), Communist Party of India-Marxist (1), and Peasants and Workers Party of India (1) to meet the 69-vote requirement, with each candidate needing at least 23 votes.
Speculation is rife about potential defections within the Mahayuti camp. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav hinted that one BJP candidate might lose, possibly due to discontent among some Mahayuti MLAs following the ruling alliance’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls.
The key candidates from Mahayuti include BJP’s Pankaja Munde, Amit Gorkhe, Sadabhau Khot, Yogesh Tilekar, and Parinay Phuke, while Shinde’s Shiv Sena is fielding Bhawana Gawli and Krupal Tumane. The NCP candidates are Shivajirao Garje and Rajesh Vitekar. From the Opposition, the Congress has nominated Pradnya Satav, and the NCP (SP) is backing Jayant Patil of the Peasants and Workers Party of India.
This high-stakes political chess game underscores the intense power struggles and strategic alliances shaping Maharashtra’s political landscape.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/mahayuti-mlas-shifted-to-hotels-amid-cross-voting-fears-in-council-elections/article68394045.ece
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