Mumbai, July 12, 2024 — As the Maharashtra Legislative Council election approaches, political parties are taking stringent measures to prevent cross-voting among their MLAs. In a bid to secure a smooth voting process and maintain unity, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Eknath Shinde’s Sena have relocated their MLAs to various hotels across Mumbai. The election, set for Friday, has prompted parties to keep a vigilant watch on their members to avoid any deviation from party lines.
Strategic Relocations and Strict Monitoring
Given the secret ballot system used in the polls, where MLAs might vote against party instructions, the Shiv Sena factions, BJP, NCP, and Congress have moved their legislators to five-star accommodations. This precautionary move is aimed at ensuring that MLAs vote according to party preferences, avoiding the pitfalls of previous elections.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena has housed its MLAs in Lower Parel’s ITC Grand Central Hotel. Meanwhile, the BJP MLAs are staying at Taj President in Colaba, and the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) has its members at Taj Lands End in Bandra. Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction has chosen Hotel Lalit in Andheri for its MLAs. Confident in their unity, the Congress has organized a dinner meeting on Thursday at Hotel Intercontinental in South Mumbai.
Historical Context and Previous Cross-Voting
The vigilance stems from a historical precedent: the fall of the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government two-and-a-half years ago due to cross-voting in the MLC election, which led to a split in the Shiv Sena party. Party leaders are now determined to avoid a repeat of such an event by keeping their MLAs closely monitored.
Party Meetings and Instructions
Throughout the week, party leaders have been holding meetings to instruct their MLAs on voting procedures. On Wednesday, the BJP conducted a meeting with a rehearsal for the MLC election, supervised by senior leaders. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde held a closed-door meeting with his MLAs at Taj Lands End Hotel in Bandra. Similarly, Shiv Sena UBT leaders held a meeting to brief their MLAs about the election.
The Stakes and Candidates
The election is seen as a semi-final before the state assembly polls, with 11 seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council contested by 12 nominees. Despite their quota allowing only two candidates, the MVA has fielded a third candidate, Milind Narvekar, a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray. Narvekar’s connections across party lines are expected to secure the additional votes needed for a comfortable win for the MVA.
Congress leader Pradnya Satav and Farmers and Peasants Party leader Jayant Patil are the first two MVA candidates. Following Narvekar’s nomination, he has been seen engaging with BJP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leaders.
Political Dynamics and Strategies
The ruling BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP have a combined strength of 181 seats, whereas the MVA has 64. With 29 MLAs from smaller parties, all factions are vying to secure their votes. The BJP has nominated OBC leader Pankaja Munde and other candidates such as Amit Gorkhe, Sadabhau Khot, Yogesh Tilekar, and Parinay Phuke. Shinde’s Shiv Sena has fielded former MPs Bhawana Gawli and Krupal Tumane, while Ajit Pawar has shown confidence in his loyalists Shivajirao Garje and Rajesh Vitekar.
Conclusion
The outcome of the Maharashtra Legislative Council election will serve as a litmus test for the upcoming state assembly polls. Political parties are leaving no stone unturned to ensure their candidates’ victory, emphasizing unity and strategic voting to avoid cross-voting incidents.
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