Mumbai, Oct 7 (PTI) Murmurs of dissent in Mahayuti over the legislative council elections grew louder on Wednesday, with NCP leader Praful Patel claiming that the party workers in five districts covered by the Pune Graduates Constituency were demoralised after the seat was allocated to the BJP.
Patel’s remarks came a day after Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare termed the party’s failure to retain the seat a “collective failure”.
“It is certainly demoralising for our cadre in five districts under which the Pune Graduates Constituency falls. The seat was with us, which we had won on our symbol in the previous election,” the NCP national working president said when asked about the BJP contesting the seat instead of the NCP, led by Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar.
Patel said the decision was finalised at a meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Pawar.
“But now that the decision has been made, it will be contested as Mahayuti,” he added.
Patel’s remarks came amid claims by NCP sources that no prior meeting was held with senior party leaders before discussions with Fadnavis.
The sources also cited Shinde’s example, who, despite the BJP announcing its candidate for the Pune Teachers’ constituency, fielded Sena worker Mangesh Chivate.
“The suggestion from the leaders was that there should be no commitment from the NCP about this particular seat as it belonged to the party. But only three leaders were involved in discussions and the decision was finalised.
“Shinde has given a ticket to his worker despite BJP pressure and has kept the window of negotiations open,” a senior NCP leader said on condition of anonymity.
On Tuesday, Tatkare termed the loss of the seat a collective failure on the last day of filing nominations for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections.
“The Pune Graduates constituency seat rightly belonged to the Nationalist Congress Party. However, it is a fact that the party did not get this seat. We must have fallen short somewhere, and this must be considered their collective failure,” Tatkare had said.
United NCP candidate Arun Lad had won the seat on the party’s clock symbol six years ago. His son Sharad Lad later joined the BJP and was reportedly interested in contesting the seat.
The BJP eventually secured the seat and fielded Dr Smita Jadhav, daughter-in-law of media baron Dr Pratapsinh Jadhav.
Biennial elections are being held for five seats — three Graduates’ and two Teachers’ constituencies — in the 78-member legislative council. These are Pune Division Graduates’, Nagpur Division Graduates’, Pune Division Teachers’, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates’ and Amravati Teachers’ constituencies.
Polling is scheduled for October 23, and votes will be counted on October 27.
Registered graduates and teachers residing within the respective geographical divisions are eligible to vote in these elections. PTI ND NSK
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