Wednesday, Apr 24, 2024 | Last Update : 05:03 AM IST
BJP, Shiv Sena in race to bolster their numbers
NCP-supported Independent MLA, Sanjay Shinde from Karmala, announced his support to the BJP.
Mumbai: Amidst the power struggle in the state, the race between the BJP and Shiv Sena to garner the support of independent MLAs and smaller parties to bolster their numbers has intensified. Shankarrao Gadakh, president of the Krantikari Shetkari Paksh, has announced his support to the Sena.
Mr Gadakh’s support to the Sena is considered a blow to the NCP, as he was supported by the Sharad Pawar-led party in the Vidhan Sabha polls.
He and his brother Prashant Gadakh met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and extended their support to the Sena. Mr Gadakh said that he had supported the Sena as an associate member and would remain with the party for the next five years.
“I was contacted by several parties, but I decided to go with the Sena as issues in rural areas can be solved by working with the ruling party only. I will concentrate on solving the problems of agriculture and unemployment with the Sena,” he added.
Meanwhile, another NCP-supported independent MLA, Sanjay Shinde from Karmala, announced his support to the BJP. Earlier, MLA Bacchu Kadu from Prahar Janshakti Paksh and two independent MLAs – Narendra Bhondekar and Rajkumar Patel, announced their support to the Sena.
The BJP, too, succeeded in getting the support of independent MLA Rajendra Raut, who pledged unconditional support to the saffron party. Mr Raut, who won from the Barshi seat, met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and extended his support to the BJP. Before the polls, he entered the BJP, but as the seat went to the Sena as part of the seat-sharing formula, he contested as an Independent. He defeated the Sena’s Dilip Sopal by just 2,190 votes.
Earlier, two Independent MLAs, Vinod Agrawal and Mahesh Baldi, extended their support to Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP.
Geeta Jain, the BJP rebel from Mira-Bhayandar, who defeated BJP’s official candidate Narendra Mehta, also announced her support to the BJP.
An independent MLA, Kishor Jorgewar from Chandrapur, too, had indicated that he would support the BJP.
