The reaction of former BJP state president and state minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has come to light on the ongoing rift between the factions of Mahayuti in Maharashtra. Talking to the media in Mumbai on Friday (December 5), Bawankule said that some incidents are happening. At the local level, BJP workers are joining Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena workers are joining BJP. But it is not that Eknath Shinde’s workers are damaging BJP and Ajit Dada’s workers are damaging the BJP government.

There will be some conflict, there are three parties – Bawankule

The BJP leader said, “There will be some clashes at the local level. But it is not that the workers in Maharashtra are fighting. Our workers are not going to cut each other like Mahavikas Aghadi.” He said that there are three parties in the alliance. At the local level, all the corporators want to go to the Zilla Panchayat and Zilla Parishad. Because of this, workers are coming to BJP.

Along with this, he said, “When Shiv Sena was in power, BJP stood with Eknath Shinde with full confidence. We kept the same faith in our workers that our government is going to strengthen Maharashtra by doing good work. Our 1 crore 51 lakh workers are standing with responsibility with Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis.”

Shiv Sena-Ajit Dada workers are firmly with the government- Bawankule

Bawankule further said, “Even in the government of Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra BJP is completely standing with the government. Besides, workers of Shiv Sena and Ajit Dada are also standing strongly with the government.”

On the financial burden on the state, he said, “The latest burden is of Rs 32,000 crore. Farmers suffered losses due to floods. Due to this, a bit of a crisis was created. But the government has dealt with it. No one knew that this was going to happen. It has caused some loss. Due to this, we slowed down a bit. But the way the banks helped, we have recovered from it.”

Elections for local self-government bodies, municipalities and panchayats are going to be held in Maharashtra in the coming few months. Before this, now a big news has come out. According to information received from sources, the formula of Mahayuti has been decided for the municipal elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has given important information in this regard. Elections for local bodies will be held in the state soon. But considering the current political situation, these elections have become a question of prestige. Therefore, there is curiosity among all parties regarding these elections.

The situation was not clear till now

Till now it was not clear whether these elections will be fought in the form of grand alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena, nationalist group and Mahavikas Aghadi ‘Shiv Sena Thackeray group, Congress, Nationalist Sharad Pawar group’ or the parties will contest on their own.

Senior leaders of Mahayuti had claimed that the elections would be fought only as an alliance, but at many places local officials were giving slogans of contesting the elections on their own. In many municipal corporations, workers of BJP, Shiv Sena and Nationalist had expressed their desire to contest elections on their own.

Mahayuti formula decided for elections

In such a situation, the question was arising whether the three parties would fight together or separately? Meanwhile, now big news has come. According to sources, the Mahayuti formula for the municipal elections has been decided. In Mumbai, all three parties BJP, Shiv Sena and nationalist will contest elections together. Whereas in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, BJP will contest elections on its own.

No final decision has been taken yet regarding Thane Municipal Corporation elections. Fadnavis said that possibilities of fighting the elections unitedly in Thane are being explored. He also said that ‘wherever the opponents can benefit, we will fight together as a Mahayuti.’

Suspense continues in Mahavikas Aghadi

Meanwhile, no clear decision has been taken by Mahavikas Aghadi regarding local body elections. On the other hand, the discussion of a possible alliance between Raj Thackeray’s MNS and Shiv Sena Thackeray faction is also intensifying. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see whether Raj Thackeray will go with Mahavikas Aghadi in the upcoming local elections or not.

Political mercury in Maharashtra is quite high these days. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) has dismissed the news of the resignation of its Maharashtra state president Jayant Patil. It has been clearly stated by the party that such reports in the media are mischievous and they have no basis.

It is worth noting that Patil is the President of undivided NCP since 2018 and even after the partition of the party in July 2023, he remains in the same position in the Sharad Pawar faction.

Reports of resignation only rumors- Jitendra Awhad

The party’s chief national spokesperson Jitendra Awhad issued a statement on Saturday (July 12), saying, “Jayant Patil (NCP-SP) is still Maharashtra Pradesh President. There are reports of his resignation. The party runs only under its rules and discipline.” He also said that some media institutions, especially news channels, are claiming that Patil has resigned and in his place, Legislative Council member Shashikant Shinde will be made the new president.

Jayant Patil made a statement a few days ago

In fact, these speculations were strengthened by the statement when on June 10, on the occasion of the 26th Foundation Day of NCP, Jayant Patil indicated in the presence of Sharad Pawar that he could leave the post. He had said, “Pawar Saheb gave me a lot of opportunities. I was given this responsibility for 7 years. Now it is necessary to give new faces a chance in the party.” The workers were emotional with this statement and urged Patil to remain in office.

Jayant Patil is considered a very loyal soldier of Sharad Pawar. He has been with Pawar since the formation of the party and when Ajit Pawar rebelled in 2023, Patil also supported Sharad Pawar.

In such a situation, the news of his resignation is not only going to spread confusion among the workers, but is also seen as an attempt to wander the atmosphere politically. The party has made it clear that there is no truth for Patil’s resignation at the moment.