Mumbai: The Konkan branch of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a meeting with the state in-charge over preparation for the coming Lok Sabha (LS) elections. There are three LS seats in the Konkan i.e. Maval, Raigad and Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg. BJP leaders discussed the party position in terms of contesting the elections on its own and in an alliance with the Shiv Sena. If the BJP contests the polls in an alliance, all three seats will belong to the Sena.
State in-charge and MP Saroj Pandey met the leaders of the LS constituencies including Maval, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. She was accompanied by state sah sanghatan mantra, Vijay Puranik. BJP’s senior leaders and office-bearers were called for the meeting in Panvel. “As of now, the party is not contesting any seat here. But if a situation arises, we will have to field strong candidates here," said Ms Pandey. It means that the BJP is preparing its party organisation to contest the elections solo in case Sena breaks the alliance. The Maval seat comprises three Assembly seats from Konkan and three from western Maharashtra. Speaking to party workers recently, CM Devendra Fadnavis asked them to be ready for polls. As regards the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat, BJP has a strong candidate in Narayan Rane. But his candidature depends on the BJP-Sena alliance. If it falls through, Mr Rane is likely to join the opposition.
