Sena forged alliance with Gote against BJP

The Shiv Sena, ally of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has forged alliance with rebel BJP legislator Anil Gote in Dhule civic poll against BJP. The poll for 74 seats will be held on December 9 in which Lok Sangram Party of Gote has extended its support to five candidates of Sena, whereas Sena has extended support to 13 candidates of Lok Sangram Party. Interestingly, the BJP is contesting civic poll against the BJP legislator in Dhule.

Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have alliance in the poll and according to source, these opposition party leaders are supporting Gote from behind the door. 12 seats are from Muslim-dominated area and as BJP has no supporter from these areas, the party could not found any candidate. BJP is contesting 62 seats out of total 74. Congress and NCP in combine are contesting 68 seats, Lok Sangram on 67, Shiv Sena on 47, All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) contesting 13, Samajwadi Party (SP) 13, Rashtriya Samaj Party (RSP) 11 and 122 independent are in poll fray. Gote had objected appointment of Girish Mahajan, minister for water resources as in-charge of Dhule poll. Gote is criticising Jaykumar Rawal, BJP minister for tourism and Raosaheb Danve, state president of BJP alleging they have inducted goons in the party before the civic poll. Mahajan, while speaking with the Free Press Journal during assembly session had claimed, “I have set a target to increase the number of BJP seats in Dhule corporation from three to 50 and I shall achieve it through my way.”

Accordingly, Mahajan has sent a team of 200 trained karyakartas (party workers) from Jamner, his constituency in Dhule to take over campaign process.

A close confidant of Mahajan said, “The team has given task to motivate poll booth level party workers, manage man power who will bring out voters from the house to the polling booth to ensure they will vote In favour of BJP candidate.”

On the other hand, party workers of Gote have an eye on BJP candidates and workers to avoid money distribution among voters.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, opposition leader Dhanajay Munde, NCP state chief Jayant Patil, Jitendra Awhad, Congress leaders Naseem Khan and Harshwardhan Patil held public meetings on Thursday to woo votes. The polling will be on Sunday and the result will be declared on Monday, December 10.

Congress and Nationalist Congress Party have alliance in the poll and according to source, these opposition party leaders are supporting Gote indirectly