PUNE: The BJP and its saffron ally in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena announced 25-23 seat-sharing formula for the Lok Sabha polls and agreed to fight on an equal number of seats in the State Assembly elections. However, whether this formula works for local party leaders remains a question.
Insiders say there will not be any difficulty during the Lok Sabha polls. However, things will not go smoothly for the seat-sharing of eight Assembly seats during the State Assembly polls. At present, the BJP has all eight State Assembly seats in Pune. Before that, both parties were in alliance and they shared four seats each in Pune.
In 2009, the Shiv Sena fielded four candidates in Kothrud, Hadapsar, Vadgaonsheri and Pune Cantonment and the BJP fielded candidates for the remaining four seats - Shivajinagar, Kasba, Parvati and Khadakwasla.
In the 2009 State Assembly election, Shiv Sena and BJP were in an alliance. At that time, the Shiv Sena won two seats - Kothrud (Chandrakant Mokate) and Hadapsar (Mahadev Babar). The Shiv Sena lost the seat in Vadgaonsheri and Pune Cantonment constituency.
In 2014, the BJP and Shiv Sena fought the elections separately. The BJP won all eight seats in the Narendra Modi wave. In this election, the Shiv Sena was in second position in Kothrud, Hadapsar and Wadgaon Sheri constituencies. But, it was in third position in Pune Cantonment area in 2014.
Right now, Medha Kulkarni (Kothrud), Jagdish Mulik (Wadgaon Sheri) and Yogesh Tilekar are considered close to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, whereas Dilip Kamble is Minister of State for Social Justice. So, it will be difficult for the BJP to give these four seats to Shiv Sena. The Sena has more of a stronghold in these four constituencies compared to the remaining.
After announcement of the State election formula, there is uneasiness among Shiv Sena aspirants and the BJP MLAs especially in Kothrud, Wadgaon Sheri, Hadapsar and Pune Cantonment.
Speaking to Sakal Times, Yogesh Gogawale, City Unit Chief of BJP said, “It is too early to comment on the State Assembly formula of equal seat-sharing. Both parties’ senior leaders will take appropriate decisions when we sit to discuss the formula of Assembly elections.”
Neelam Gorhe, spokesperson of Shiv Sena said, “We have to wait and watch. It is too early to say anything about Assembly seat-sharing issue. It is true the Sena will get equal seats in the State Assembly election, but we cannot tell you right now about that. We will see the work of candidates in Lok Sabha polls and on that basis, we will take decision of seats.”
