With Monday marking the final day for withdrawing nominations in Maharashtra, all major political parties were engaged in intense negotiations with rebel candidates on Sunday to avoid vote splits. Congress leaders, including All India Congress Committee’s Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, state chief Nana Patole, and state executive president Naseem Khan, led talks with their rebels, hoping to secure withdrawals.
For the ruling Mahayuti alliance, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and CM Eknath Shinde spent over three hours strategizing to convince rebel candidates to step down. While the BJP successfully managed to persuade some dissenting leaders in Vidarbha, Mumbai, and Western Maharashtra, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena also made headway with its rebels, convincing many to withdraw. However, a Shiv Sena leader confirmed that a few rebels remained firm, particularly in the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency in Mumbai Suburban, where the ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has fielded former state minister Nawab Malik.
Meanwhile, the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar, held talks with its allies, including the Shiv Sena, to resolve disputes over contested seats. In areas like Dindori and Deolali, where both NCP and Shiv Sena have fielded candidates, negotiations were ongoing to reach a compromise. The intense parleys highlight the strategic importance of these bypolls, as all parties aim to prevent internal divisions that could impact their chances in the elections.
