Eknath Shinde responds to rebels contesting Maharashtra polls: Will find a way

Addressing questions about rebels of the Mahayuti alliance contesting the Assembly polls, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that senior leaders of the alliance would sit and find a way in connection with the matter.

In Short

• Eknath Shinde hopes senior Mahayuti leaders will find a way to deal with rebels
• Both Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi are facing challenges from rebels
• Shinde says Mahayuti candidate will contest against Nawab Malik in polls

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday expressed confidence that Mahayuti members will be able to address the issue of rebels contesting against the alliance's candidates in Assembly polls.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance, consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), are the main contenders for power in the western state, though smaller parties and independents are also in the poll fray.

Speaking to India Today TV, Shinde said that before the last date of filing nominations, senior leaders of the Mahayuti alliance will sit and decide the way forward.

"Two, three days are still left for taking back the nomination. Definitely, senior leaders of the three parties (Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP) will sit together and find a way," Shinde said.

The Mahayuti alliance is facing a significant challenge from party rebels, with several of them contesting the polls as independents.

On October 24, Mumbai NCP chief Sameer Bhujbal, nephew of senior party leader Chhagan Bhujbal, announced his intention to contest the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections as an independent candidate from Nashik's Nandgaon constituency.

Similarly, former BJP MP Gopal Shetty is contesting from Borivali as an independent candidate as he didn't get a ticket to contest the Assembly elections.

In addition, on the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Assembly seat, two Mahayuti alliance candidates, Nawab Malik from NCP and Shiv Sena's Suresh Patil, are contesting against each other.

Shinde also confirmed that Mahayuti's official candidate from the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Assembly seat is Suresh Patil and he will contest against Malik in the polls.

"On Nawab Malik's seat, we have given a candidate, and he will contest and win the polls," Shinde said.

Polling for the 288-member state assembly will be held on November 20 and results will be declared on November 23.