Pune: NCP MLA Sunil Shelke has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing a duplicitous role ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra's Maval Assembly constituency.
Speaking at a press conference in Maval, Shelke claimed that the BJP, which had previously advocated for the unity of the Mahayuti alliance during the Lok Sabha elections, is now allegedly working against Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction.
Shelke’s allegations have sparked controversy within the political circles of Maval. He stated that BJP workers have been actively canvassing in local villages, urging people not to support Ajit Pawar’s party by bringing up the Maval firing incident.
The 2011 incident, in which farmers were killed during a protest, has resurfaced in political discourse, with BJP workers allegedly using it to turn voters against the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar.
"This sudden shift in stance is surprising. During the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP stressed the importance of maintaining the Mahayuti alliance, and now they are openly opposing Ajit Pawar and his MLAs," Shelke remarked.
He also alleged that a faction within the BJP is encouraging support for the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, should their candidate contest in the elections, further complicating the political landscape in the region.
Shelke, who had opposed sitting MP Shrirang Barne in the previous Lok Sabha elections, is now facing resistance within the alliance itself.
His accusations point to an increasing rift within the Mahayuti, with the possibility of internal conflicts affecting the upcoming Assembly elections in Maval.
Shelke’s claims suggest that the BJP’s internal strategies could disrupt the alliance’s cohesion, potentially leading to a three-way contest involving the BJP, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP.
As the political tensions rise, Shelke’s remarks have added fuel to speculations of a growing divide within the Mahayuti alliance, casting uncertainty over the election outcome in Maval.
