Analysis : Pramod Chunchuwar
The trumpets of the Lok Sabha elections have been blown and Congress-BJP have also announced some candidates in the state. There are 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, and the contests in many of these constituencies are going to be worth millions. These contests are going to be colorful due to where there are equal candidates, where there is insurgency and where there are equations in that Lok Sabha constituency. Elections are being held in five phases across the state, and all parties may face insurgency in this election. Be it Maha Vikas Aghadi or Maha Uti, the seat allocation between these two alliances is stalled.
There are six Lok Sabha constituencies in Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, and the contests in all these constituencies are becoming a topic of discussion not only in the state but also in the country. South Mumbai, home to a majority of corporate offices and headquarters of nationalized banks, will be a key battleground. Here Shiv Sena has announced the candidature of sitting MP Arvind Sawant, BJP candidate is still in the bouquet. Initially, the name of Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rahul Narvekar was considered certain from here. However, now his name is back. BJP is looking for a strong candidate who can attract Marathi voters. Bala Nandgaonkar of MNS was also proposed to contest on Kamal. However, MNS has rejected it. Marathi, Hindi speaking, Gujarati, Marwari and Muslim voters are in this constituency. There is a picture that there will be a one-sided fight between the constituencies of Mumbai North and Mumbai North East, which are considered to be the strongholds of the BJP. Piyush Goyal has been nominated in Mumbai North, while Mihir Kotecha has been nominated in Mumbai North East. However, candidates for other seats have not been announced yet. The Shiv Sena has proposed that the Shiv Sena will contest on four other seats, leaving the North Mumbai and North Central seats in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Congress or Shiv Sena do not have candidates who can give a tough fight in the stronghold of BJP. Shiv Sena's Shinde group is also trying to field film artist Govinda against Amol Kirtikar of Shiv Sena (Ubatha) in the North West constituency.
A strategy to catch Chief Minister Shinde in a dilemma
Elections in all the three Lok Sabha constituencies of Thane district of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde namely Thane, Kalyan and Bhiwandi are going to be interesting. Although Shiv Sena currently wants Thane seat, BJP has a claim on this seat. Shiv Sena's sitting MP Rajan Vikhar is with Uddhav Thackeray on this seat. BJP's strategy is to indirectly challenge Eknath Shinde by fielding former minister Ganesh Naik's son Sanjiv Naik as candidate for this seat. In Kalyan, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's son Dr. Srikanth Shinde is again entering the arena. There is extreme bitterness between Shiv Sena (Shinde) party and BJP in this constituency. BJP MLA from here Ganpat Gaikwad fired at Shiv Sena's local city president. After this, a dispute has erupted between these two parties. Against this backdrop, Shiv Sena (Ubatha) is thinking of fielding Kedar Dighe, nephew of Eknath Shinde's political mentor Anand Dighe. Of course, currently in Kalyan, Shinde's son and current MP Dr. Srikanth Shinde seems to be leading.
With Vijay Shivtare announcing to contest in Baramati Constituency, there is a danger of splitting the votes of the NCP (Ajit Pawar) candidate. Due to this, it has been warned that Shiv Sena will have to bear the brunt of this in Kalyan. So at this place Dr. Shinde will have to face a lot of opposition. Shiv Sena's (Ubatha) Annat Geeta fight against Sunil Tatkare in Raigad Constituency will be eye-catching. However, there is a struggle between BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde) over the candidature of Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency. The picture of the fight in this constituency will be clear from who gets this seat. Industries Minister Uday Samant's brother is willing to contest from this constituency.
All eyes on Baramati
The fight between Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar will be colorful in Baramati Constituency. With Vijay Shivtare of the Shiv Sena (Shinde) group planting the flag of rebellion, the strategy of the Shinde group is to keep Ajit Pawar trapped in this constituency. It is being said that Shivtare's candidature will divide the Mahayutti and Supriya Sule will benefit from it.
In Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj will be the Congress candidate, while there are indications that the Shiv Sena (Shinde) group will replace the existing MP. This fight will also be a topic of discussion across the state. Ahmednagar Dr. Sujay Vikhe-Patil has strong opposition from local BJP leaders. Leaders from BJP, NCP, Congress are united against Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil. NCP (Ajit Pawar) group MLA Nilesh Lanka is all set to challenge Vikhe by contesting the Lok Sabha from here on the ticket of Sharad Pawar group. So this fight is going to be interesting. In Solapur, former Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's daughter and MLA Praniti Shinde will enter the fray, so this fight is also eye-catching. There is still no clarity in the BJP about who should be nominated here.
In Madha constituency, the time may come for BJP to change the candidate announced by BJP and leave this seat to the NCP (Ajit Pawar) group. Sharad Pawar has taken full advantage of the internal conflict in the grand alliance from Madha, and Mahadev Jankar, a popular leader of the Dhangar community, has offered his candidature from Madha, and he has also accepted it.
Jarange factor in Marathwada
The fight of Sambhajinagar in Marathwada will be eye-catching. Although Chandrakant Khaire of Shiv Sena (Ubatha) is the candidate here, the question is whether Shiv Sena's leader and opposition leader Ambadas Danve will work for him or not. BJP also wants this seat. Along with this, this battle will be important because of who will be the candidate of Shiv Sena (Shinde) group. Currently, the name of Sandipan Bhumre is in discussion. Shiv Sena (Ubatha) candidate Sanjay Lakhe-Patil is entering the fray against BJP's Raosaheb Danve in Jalna constituency. Jalana is the focal point of the Maratha reservation movement led by Manoj Jarange-Patil. Jarange has often criticized the BJP. Along with this, the protestors of the Maratha reservation are angry with the government for not giving final form to the draft regarding Sagesoire. Demons can be affected by this displeasure. In Beed, BJP has nominated Pankaja Munde instead of Pritam Munde. Jyoti Mete, wife of the late leader Vinayak Mete who fought for Maratha reservation by the Nationalist Party (SP) is likely to be nominated here. Therefore, considering the caste equations in this constituency, Pankaja is going to have a huge challenge to win.
In Raver constituency, BJP has nominated Raksha Khadse, and if another member of Eknath Khadse's family fights against him, then this fight will be colorful. Of course, currently the candidature of Raksha Khadse is being opposed by the BJP itself.
Colorful fights in Vidarbha
Prakash Ambedkar of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi may be the candidate in Akola constituency. However, if he enters the Maha Vikas Aghadi, his fight against BJP candidate Anup Dhotre could be tough. Navneet Rana is currently an independent MP from Amravati. Local leaders of BJP and Shiv Sena are strongly opposed to nominating him. Mahayuti government itself has taken the stand that their caste certificate is not valid in the court. So there are question marks on his candidature. However, even if the BJP nominates him, the local MLA Balwant Wankhede, who has been announced as a candidate by the Congress, will give a tough fight against him. Rana's opponents in the Grand Alliance are likely to help the Congress candidate from within. Also, there are indications that Bachu Kadu will field his candidate and undermine Rana's votes.
Announcing Nitin Gadkari's candidature in Nagpur constituency will make it easier for BJP to fight this fort. However, since it is still a secret who will get the nomination from Congress, the curiosity about this contest remains. Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has been announced as the candidate for Chandrapur Lok Sabha Constituency by BJP, so this fight will also be important. Former MP Balu Dhanorkar's wife Pratibha Dhanorkar is likely to get candidature here from Congress. Pratibha Dhanorkar's burden is heavy because of the caste equations in this constituency and the sympathy received by Balu Dhanorkar's death. It will be an important question whether sitting MP Bhavna Gawli will get candidature in Yavatmal Washim constituency and whether local BJP leader and leader of Shiv Sena (Shinde) Sanjay Rathod will work for her if she gets candidature. Rathod has time and again opposed Gawli's candidature.
