Tejas Navale

Pune: With the Lok Sabha elections concluded, political parties are now shifting their focus to the upcoming legislative assembly elections, expected in the next four to five months. Although the dates have not been officially announced, tensions are already surfacing within the Mahayuti and Mahavikas Aghadi alliances over seat-sharing arrangements.

Recently, Chhagan Bhujbal of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) publicly demanded 80 to 85 seats in the upcoming elections. This demand caused Mahayuti leaders to sidestep questions about Bhujbal's request, highlighting the tough challenge ahead for the alliance in resolving seat-sharing disputes.

Following the Lok Sabha elections, Bhujbal and other senior NCP leaders blamed the protracted wrangling over seat-sharing—lasting until just 20 to 25 days before voting—as one of the key reasons for Mahayuti's poor performance in the elections. To avoid a repeat, they have called for early seat-sharing agreements among parties.

The Chinchwad legislative assembly seat has become a particular point of contention. Two days ago, the Ajit Pawar group of the NCP staked a claim on the seat. However, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) city president Shankar Jagtap countered that the Mahayuti alliance had agreed that seats with sitting MLAs would remain with the current party, ruling out a handover of Chinchwad to the NCP.

At that time, Shankar Jagtap, the brother of the late Chinchwad MLA Laxman Jagtap, also declared his intention to contest the upcoming assembly election in Chinchwad. This ambition is creating a significant stir, especially given that his sister-in-law, Ashwini Jagtap, is the current sitting MLA for the constituency.

Ashwini Jagtap, not one to back down, has also asserted her right to run for the seat, demonstrating a firm determination to retain her position in the assembly. This familial rivalry adds a dramatic layer to the political landscape, with both Jagtaps eyeing the same prize.

The ensuing conflict has set the stage for a compelling political showdown within the Mahayuti alliance. Observers are keenly watching how this internal deadlock will be resolved. The stakes are high as the alliance grapples with balancing loyalty and strategic decision-making.

The late MLA Laxman Jagtap passed away on January 3, 2023, and during the subsequent by-elections, Ashwini Jagtap was nominated to his seat, despite Shankar Jagtap being a frontrunner. As the Mahayuti alliance navigates this deadlock, it remains to be seen how they will reconcile these internal conflicts ahead of the assembly elections.