CM Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray
– Photo: ANI/X/@mieknathshinde
Expansion
Thane, the city of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, was once the stronghold of BJP, but now a mountain of challenges has arisen before the BJP. Thane district has the highest number of BJP MLAs. From councilors to gram panchayats, the lotus has blossomed, but Shiv Sena rebels have created problems for the BJP in the assembly elections.
There are a total of 18 assembly seats in Thane district. Last time, BJP had won maximum 8 assembly seats, while Shiv Sena had won 5 seats. Apart from two MLAs from NCP, one MLA each from SP and MNS, independent Geeta Jain had won from Mira Bhayander seat. This time in Thane, there are 9 candidates from BJP, 7 from Shiv Sena and 2 from NCP, while from MVA, Shiv Sena (UBT) has maximum 10 candidates, NCP (SP) 5, Congress 2 and SP has one candidate. BJP wants to repeat its previous performance in the assembly elections, but Shinde's Shiv Sena rebels are contesting against BJP candidates on 3 seats. Sulabha Gaikwad, wife of MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, who opened fire at the police station in Kalyan East seat, is the BJP candidate, where CM Shinde's close aide and Shiv Sena city chief Mahesh Gaikwad has rebelled and contested as an independent. Whereas in Airoli, Shiv Sena's Vijay Chougule is in the fray against BJP's Ganesh Naik and in Belapur, Shiv Sena's Vijay Nahata is in the fray against BJP candidate Manda Mhatre. Similarly, BJP leaders have rebelled on two seats of Shiv Sena, which include Kalyan West and Bhiwandi Rural seat.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had claimed that there would be no rebellion in his district. But they could not stop the rebellion of their own leaders.
Shinde will spoil Uddhav's game in front of Shinde
Uddhav Thackeray has fielded Kedar Dighe, nephew of his mentor late Anand Dighe, against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on the Kopri-Panch Pakhadi seat in Thane city. But, Uddhav's game may get spoiled with Congress leader Manoj Shinde contesting as an independent candidate. At the same time, there is a triangular contest between BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS on the Thane city seat. In Mira-Bhayander, former mayor of BJP and independent MLA Geeta Jain is in the fray this time also against BJP candidate Narendra Mehta.
