Kolhapur: Shiv Sena has kept BJP guessing over support for its Pune Graduates’ Constituency candidate Smita Jadhav, even as Sena has openly backed an Independent candidate against BJP in the Teachers’ Constituency election.
Voting for the MLC elections is scheduled on Oct 23. Because the party has already declared support for Independent candidate Sachin Sanap in the Teachers’ Constituency election, where he is pitted against BJP’s official nominee Kaustubh Gavde, sena’s stand assumes significance.
This was conveyed to Smita Jadhav, and she said she would discuss the matter with her party leadership,” Desai told reporters. The minister said he would hold a rally and formally announce support for Jadhav once the issues are resolved. Jadhav met Desai at his Satara residence a day before chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is scheduled to begin campaigning for BJP candidates in the MLC elections. “A few developments in the district over the past months have created resentment among our grassroots workers. There is no issue among the senior functionaries, but these concerns need to be addressed at the senior leadership level. Once that happens, there will be no obstacle. In the Pune Graduates’ Constituency, Jadhav faces Harshada Deshmukh Jadhav of NCP (SP), who hails from Satara district.
The uncertainty surfaced on Sunday when Shiv Sena politician and minister Shambhuraj Desai told Jadhav that resentment among grassroots workers over recent political developments in Satara district must be addressed before the party can formally declare support.