Kolhapur: The Maha Vikas Agadi (MVA) failed to convince the rebels to withdraw from the race in elections in Sangli, Patan, Solapur City Central, Solapur South, Shirol and Hatkanangle constituencies. Now, all are running either as independents, on a party list, or on the list of other parties they have recently joined.
In Sangli, the Congress failed to convince Jayashri Madan Patil to withdraw his candidature. She was seeking the ticket, but the Congress nominated Prithviraj Patil, who narrowly lost in the 2019 Assembly polls. On the other hand, the BJP managed to convince Shivaji Dongre to withdraw his nomination. He was unhappy after the party nominated sitting MP Sudhir Gadgil.
In Miraj, MVA nominated Tanaji Satpute as the official candidate on the Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket and convinced Mohan Vankhande to step down. Vankhande had earlier joined the Congress party from the BJP and was hoping to get the ticket.
In Patan, Satyajeet Patankar is contesting as an independent. He was waiting for the ticket, but Shiv Sena (UBT) declared Bhanupratap Mohan Kadam as its candidate – eventually the seat went to Sena (UBT).
In Madha assembly, where there were strong contenders seeking a ticket from the NCP (SCP), sitting MLA Baban Shinde’s son Ranjit Shinde rebelled and filed nomination as an independent .
In Sangola, the Sena (UBT) and the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) were unable to reach an agreement, and the candidates of the two parties, Dipak Salunke and Babasaheb Deshmukh respectively, did not withdraw their candidature.
In Solapur Central – the seat Praniti Shinde represented before becoming an MP – the Congress and the CPI(M) were unable to reach an agreement, and both parties now have official candidates, Chetan Narote and Narsayya Adam, respectively .
In Solapur City South, Dharmaraj Kadadi and Dilip Mane were waiting for a ticket. Mané even received the Congress ticket. However, Mane withdrew and Kadadi is now in the fray as an independent against Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Amar Patil and BJP’s Subhash Deshmukh.
Former MPs of the undivided Sena will present themselves
Two former MPs from the undivided Sena, who joined the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction – Sujit Minchekar and Ulhas Patil – have received nominations from Raju Shetti’s Swabhimani Paksh.
Interestingly, Minchekar and Patil will face Congress candidates Raju Awale and Ganpatrao Patil.
JSS retains nominations
The Jan Surajya Shakti Party is an ally of the BJP in Mahayuti. The latter officially left the seats of Shahuwadi and Hatkanangle to the JSS, led by former minister Vinay Kore.
However, Kore has released official nominations for Santaji Ghorpade from Karvir and Mansing Khorate from Chandgad. Both retained their candidacy. In Karvir, Ghorpade will face Sena candidate Chandradip Narke, and in Chandgad, Khorate will take on NCP’s Rajesh Patil.