Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 10: Rebel candidates have emerged as a major challenge for both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Council elections for graduate and teachers' constituencies, with several rebels refusing to withdraw their nominations before the deadline.

Although withdrawals by rebel candidates in the Pune graduate and teachers' constituencies have brought relief to the official nominees, rebels remain in the fray in Nagpur, Aurangabad and Amravati, complicating the electoral calculations of both alliances. Polling for three graduate and two teachers' constituencies of the Maharashtra Legislative Council is scheduled for October 23, while Friday was the last date for candidates to withdraw their nominations.

In the Pune graduate constituency, Pratap alias Bhaiyya Mane of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction withdrew his candidature, while Mangesh Chivte of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena withdrew from the Pune teachers' constituency. Independent candidate Ashwini Nikam also withdrew from the teachers' constituency.

The withdrawals have provided relief to the BJP's official candidates, Dr Smita Jadhav in the graduate constituency and Kaustubh Gawde in the teachers' constituency. The Pune graduate constituency is now set for a direct contest between Mahayuti candidate Dr Smita Jadhav and MVA candidate Harshada Deshmukh-Jadhav. In the teachers' constituency, BJP candidate Kaustubh Gawde will face Congress nominee Jayant Asgaonkar.

The Amravati division teachers' constituency has exposed differences within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. After the seat was allotted to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, sitting MLC Kiran Sarnaik was nominated as the alliance's official candidate. However, Sarnaik faces rebellion from within the alliance, including three relatives of BJP leaders who have entered the contest. Shrikant Deshpande of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena has also rebelled, adding to the official candidate's difficulties. The Congress has fielded Aditi Pohare, while Dattatraya Lahane of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena is also contesting, making the constituency a multi-cornered contest.

In the Nagpur graduate constituency, former MLA Anil Sole has refused to withdraw his candidature against the BJP's official nominee Sudhakar Kohale. Senior BJP leaders, including state president Ravindra Chavan and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, reportedly made efforts to persuade Sole to withdraw, but the attempts failed to produce a settlement.

The party's internal differences became more evident after former MLA Girish Vyas resigned from the BJP's primary membership in support of Sole. The rebellion has also caused concern within the party's organisational ranks.

The opposition MVA is facing a similar challenge in Nagpur. Congress candidate Abhijit Vanjari is contesting against independent candidate Nilesh Karale, who belongs to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction. MVA leaders attempted to persuade Karale to withdraw his candidature, but he remained firm on contesting the election, leaving the opposition alliance to deal with a rebel challenge of its own.

The Aurangabad graduate constituency has also witnessed differences within the MVA. Satish Chavan of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction is facing Pratapsingh Patil of the Sharad Pawar-led faction and Dilip Ghuge of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, setting the stage for a triangular contest.

Meanwhile, BJP leader M K Deshmukh withdrew his candidature following instructions from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, providing some relief to the Mahayuti camp. Pratapsingh Patil is the brother of Uddhav Sena MLA Rahul Patil, creating a politically complicated situation for the legislator. With a candidate from his own party also in the fray, Rahul Patil faces difficulties in openly campaigning for his brother without creating a conflict within the party.

The developments have highlighted the difficulties faced by both alliances in managing internal differences ahead of the Legislative Council elections. While withdrawals have eased the situation in Pune, persistent rebellions in Amravati, Nagpur and Aurangabad could affect the prospects of the official candidates on October 23.