Pune: As the Maharashtra Assembly elections draw near, seat-sharing issues have created tensions within both the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
In anticipation of potential rebellion by dissatisfied candidates from these alliances, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is positioning itself as an alternative for these individuals by offering them tickets to contest the elections.
MNS President Raj Thackeray held a key meeting with party officials from Western Maharashtra in Pune to discuss election strategies and preparations.
During the meeting, Raj Thackeray directed party leaders and workers to gear up for the upcoming Assembly elections, indicating that external candidates may also be considered for certain seats. This opens the door for disgruntled individuals from the Mahayuti and MVA alliances to potentially secure MNS tickets.
The meeting, held at Sankalp Mangal Hall, was attended by prominent MNS leaders including Shirish Sawant, Anil Shidore, Avinash Abhyankar, Babu Vagaskar, Avinash Jadhav, and Abhijit Panse, alongside other senior officials such as Bala Shedge, Kishore Shinde, Ajay Shinde, Hemant Sambhus, Yogesh Khaire, and Sainath Babar.
The meeting also included a detailed review of the Assembly seats in Pune. MNS has finalized candidates for five out of the eight seats, while for the remaining three seats, candidates will be chosen based on their electoral viability.
With ongoing disagreements between the Mahayuti and MVA over seat-sharing in Pune, MNS is prepared to offer tickets to discontented candidates from both alliances, should conflicts arise.
This strategy aims to strengthen MNS's position in the upcoming elections and capitalize on any internal rifts within the major political alliances.