Interesting political permutations and combinations have emerged in polls for two Lok Sabha seats, an Assembly seat and six Legislative Council seats in Maharashtra, scheduled this month.
Bypolls for Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha constituencies and Palus-Kadegaon Assembly seat will be held on May 28.
The by-elections were necessitated because of the resignation of Nana Patole as the BJP MP from Bhandara-Gondia and deaths of sitting BJP MP Chintaman Wanga (Palghar near Mumbai) and Congress MLA Patangrao Kadam (Palus-Kadegaon).
Major parties are in a seat-sharing agreement for the May 21 Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) biennial elections for six seats from local bodies constituencies.
With Shiv Sena fielding Wanga's son Shriniwas in Palghar, the seat has become crucial for BJP, which has fielded Rajendra Gavit, former Congress MLA and and MoS for sports. Congress' Damoo Barku Shingada and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi's Baliram Jadhav are also in the fray.
"Shiv Sena played an unexpected and unfortunate game of fielding Shriniwas Wanga but BJP will win these elections," Keshav Upadhye, state BJP spokesperson, said.
Despite Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stressing on BJP having a strong base in Palghar district, the last-minute induction of Gavit hasn't sent out a good message, a BJP leader said.
Fadnavis defended Gavit's candidature saying, "There are 10 per cent people who join BJP from other parties because of our work and vision for development."
NCP has decided to support independent candidate Ashok Jagdale, who today issued a statement saying, "If elected, I will join NCP in the Upper House."
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