MahaYuti & MVA partners step up outreach to voters even before seat sharing agreements, also announces few candidates

SANJAY JOG

Even though the MahaYuti partners and Maha Vikas Aghadi allies have yet to reach at seat sharing agreements, they have stepped up outreach to voters and carrying out launch or foundation laying of a slew of development projects ahead of the announcement of the model code conduct for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections expected by March 15.

Chief Minister Ekath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are conducting whirlwind tours across Maharashtra so also the NCP Sharadchandra Pawar, Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and Congress leaders Nana Patole and Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat to sensitise voters while appealing them for their support for make or break fights in 48 constituencies of Maharashtra. Simultaneously, there has been a rush for the release of government notifications on a number of government schemes, programmes and projects as in the last two days over 250 such notifications were issued and their number will increase ahead of the announcement of the poll schedule.

Shinde has announced the candidature of sitting MP Rahul Shewale from the Mumbai South Central constituency. Shinde has been tirelessly travelling to attend a number of government functions and also party rallies as he is the leading campaigner and mobiliser in his party. On the other hand, Fadnavis, who is engaged in the talks with Shinde and Pawar and also with home minister Amit Shah for seat sharing arrangement, has been quite proactive in taking up government programmes to the voters and addressing party functions with a resolve to achieve BJP's 400 plus mission at the national level and 45 plus target in Maharashtra. As far as Ajit Pawar is concerned, the upcoming general elections is an acid test for him to prove his pan Maharashtra leadership while justifying his move to ditch uncle Sharad Pawar and associate with BJP and Shinde. He has been addressing a series of party rallies and attending government functions in an attempt to increase the party's presence across the state.

NCP Sharadchandra Pawar has declared candidature of party chief Sharad Pawar's daughter from Baramati and sitting MP and actor Amol Kolhe from Shirur seat in Pune district. NCP led by Ajit Pawar's state unit Sunil Tatkare has announced Sunetra Pawar

as party candidate from Baramati which has been Pawar's bastion. Sunetra is Ajit Pawar's wife.?Baramati will witness a straight fight between sisters in law as both Supriya and Sunetra have increased their visits to lanes and bylanes and tehsils seeking the support of voters.

Sharad Pawar, 84 has been extensively travelling in Baramati and across Maharashtra appealing to the party members to remain with him during the present crisis. Pawar, who has a direct connect with youth and old guards, is exhorting them not to be deterred by pressure tactics by the MahaYuti but to be ready for fight.

Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackray chief Uddhav Thackeray declared Amol Kirtikar's nomination from Mumbai North West. Amol Kirtikar, who is the son of veteran Shiv Sena leader and MP Gajanan Kirtikar is expected to take on his father in Mumbai though Thackeray's unilateral announcement was attacked by former Mumbai Congress chief and MP Sanjay Nirupam claiming that it was against the alliance dharma. He also alleged that Amol Kirtikar was an accused in the 'Khichadi scam' especially for his involvement in the free food distribution programme undertaken by Mumbai civic body by allegedly accepting bribes during the COVID period. Nirupam has claimed that he has been preparing for the elections for the last five years and is quite keen to contest from Mumbai North West.

Incidentally, Thackeray despite being targeted by the BJP and Shinde is carrying out region wise tours to charge up the cadres. He has so far travelled to Konkan, Marathwada, North Maharashtra and Vidarbha taking aggressive posture against BJP which was termed as ''MahaShakti'' by Shinde after his revolt against his former boss Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022.

Besides, Thackeray has been visiting the Shakhas in Mumbai which he has put them on active mode to take on the BJP and Shinde led party.

In the case of Congress party, its state unit chief Nana Patole and legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat are on the move while downplaying the exit of former Ashok Chavan who recently joined BJP and was elected to the Rajya Sabha. Congress party is banking on the Rahul Gandhi led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra's entry in Maharashtra will help activate the party cadres for upcoming general elections. Thereafter, the party hopes there will be no more splits in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections.

Both MahaYuti partners and Maha Vikas Aghadi hope to finalise seat sharing arrangements in a day or two so that they can formally launch their respective poll management plans across Maharashtra.