Tensions have emerged within Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, after the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi won three of the five seats in the MLC polls. These included the Nagpur Graduates' constituency in Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's hometown.Sena leader Nilesh Rane rebuked BJP spokesperson amid the Maharashtra MLC poll setback.
Shiv Sena leader Nilesh Rane on Friday criticised BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban for targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after the ruling alliance suffered setbacks in the Legislative Council elections, news agency Press Trust of India reported.Tensions have emerged within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, after the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi won three of the five seats that went to polls. These included the Nagpur Graduates' constituency in Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's hometown.“Navnath Ban, stay within your limits while speaking about Shinde saheb.
You speak beyond your stature,” Rane, the MLA from Kudal, said.According to PTI, Ban, a close aide of Fadnavis, had criticised the Shinde-led Shiv Sena after the BJP lost the Pune and Nagpur Graduates' constituencies. He claimed the Mahayuti could have won all five seats had the Shiv Sena supported the BJP and the NCP.
The BJP and Shiv Sena have since exchanged barbs over the election results.Nilesh Rane's brother Nitesh Rane, a BJP leader and Maharashtra cabinet minister, had said on Thursday that it should be examined whether there were any “Shakuni mamas” within the Mahayuti following the Council election results. Voting for the Pune Graduates', Nagpur Graduates', Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates', Pune Teachers' and Amravati Teachers' constituencies was held on October 23.
The results were declared on October 28.The Congress won the Nagpur Graduates' seat, while the NCP (SP) secured the Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates' seats. The BJP won the Pune Teachers' seat, and the Shiv Sena secured the Amravati Teachers' seat.The Opposition's victory in three of the five seats has led to an exchange of criticism between the BJP and Shiv Sena, with leaders questioning the support extended by Mahayuti partners during the elections.- Ends