Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
After setbacks in the municipal elections, Shiv Sena (Shinde) eased its stance in the Zilla Parishad polls, accepting 25 seats as the junior partner to BJP’s 27. The alliance, announced after meetings of ministers, MPs, and MLAs of both parties at a Railway Station Road hotel, covers 52 of the 63 guts in the district.
In Sillod, however, SS(Shinde) MLA Abdul Sattar rejected Guardian Minister Sanjay Shirsat’s invitation, opting to contest independently. Consequently, the alliance breaks down in 11 constituencies across Sillod and Soygaon tehsils, where BJP and Shinde Sena will face each other directly. OBC Welfare Minister Atul Save clarified there would be no friendly contests in these areas. Overall, BJP will contest 38 seats while SS(Shinde) fights 35, with the party achieving a higher strike rate expected to secure the Zilla Parishad presidency.
The alliance announcement triggered unrest among party workers. In Vaijapur, BJP cadres protested, expressing anger over receiving only three of the eight seats in the taluka. They surrounded Minister Save, MP Dr. Bhagwat Karad, and MLC Sanjay Kenekar, opposing the seat allocation and creating a tense situation. Police ensured the ministers safely left for their central office. Several BJP leaders questioned whether to campaign for candidates who, they felt, undermined party leaders despite years of groundwork.
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Zilla Parishad president likely from the grand alliance…
Despite tensions, the grand alliance is projected to hold sway over the Zilla Parishad, with the presidency likely from either BJP or SS(Shinde). Yet, Sillod remains uncertain, as MLA Abdul Sattar’s independent candidature disrupts the alliance there, leaving the outcome unpredictable.
BJP-SS(Shinde) alliance: 52 seats [BJP – 27, SS(Shinde)- 25]
Direct contests: 11 seats in Sillod-Soygaon
BJP: 27 seats, SS(Shinde): 25 seats
Independent contest: Abdul Sattar in Sillod