MLC poll: BJP local leadership against offering Aurangabad-cum-Jalna local authorities constituency seat to Sena

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Local BJP leaders on Thursday voiced opposition to the party’s decision to cede the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad)-cum-Jalna Local Authorities constituency seat to Shiv Sena.

Addressing the media, BJP city president Kishor Shitole stated that the local unit has communicated its demand to CM Devendra Fadnavis and other top leaders, insisting that the party must contest the seat.

“There are roughly 600 voters in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-cum-Jalna constituency. Nearly 280 of these are BJP supporters, while only 125 are of Shiv Sena,” Shitole said. “If we include the independents who support us, the BJP has the strength to win this seat comfortably on its own, without needing an alliance.”

The local unit’s claim comes amid high-level talks between alliance partners regarding the distribution of seats. Shitole said, “These are the sentiments of the people. They feel that the BJP should not offer this seat to the Sena,” he added.

Shitole also referenced the fallout during recent municipal elections in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where the Sena snapped ties with the BJP. “By breaking the alliance then, they created a fiasco for themselves,” he remarked, suggesting that past political friction remains a point of contention.

The claim is backed by senior party figures, including cabinet minister Atul Save, who noted that the BJP holds the highest number of elected representatives (the voters for this MLC seat) in the region. Conversely, Shiv Sena leaders, including district guardian minister Sanjay Shirsat, have also staked their claim on the seat.

In the 2019 elections for this constituency, Ambadas Danve—representing the then-undivided Shiv Sena—won with BJP support, securing approximately 81% of the total votes. However, with the current shift in political dynamics and the BJP’s perceived numerical advantage, the local unit is unwilling to step aside.