BJP fields candidates in Sena seats

NAGPUR: In an apparent indication of worsening relations between the two saffron parties, the BJP has fielded its candidates in all the ten wards including the four allotted to Shiv Sena in the civic by-elections slated in October.
The BJP’s decision has not gone down well with the local unit of Sena which claims it was kept in the dark about the decision.However as of now Sena is not talking of severing the alliance with BJP and said it wait till withdrawal of nominations later this month. The BJP on its part tried to downplay the issue and claimed that Sena leaders had been intimated of its decision.
Tuesday was the last day of filing nomination. As per the arrangement between the parties Sena had contested Mehendibagh, Naik Talao, Lendi Talao and Maskasath seats in February civic elections. Sena won in three and lost Naik Talao seat."The alliance between both the parties was forged prior to the elections in February. The understanding was that Sena will contest in wards allotted to it and BJP will contest in remaining wards. The BJP kept us in the dark while filing nominations. We have kept the alliance dharma and will not initiate moves to break the alliance,"said Shekhar Sawarbandhe, Sena corporator and president of party’s city unit.
The Sena has managed to put up candidates only in three wards — Lendi Talao, Mehendibagh and Naik Talao. Two of candidates are from Mana community who belong to Scheduled Tribe and another is from the Halba community. "We were unable to field fourth candidate because our nominee’s name was not in the voters’ list," Sawarbandhe added.
The saffron parties which are allies at the state level for last two decades had managed to form a pre-electoral alliance for the first time in the city in 2007. Sena leaders are indeed disturbed over BJP’s stance although they chose to give BJP the option to withdraw candidates from three wards reserved for it.
Apparently, there is some kind of tension brewing between leaders of both the parties. The tension increased when Sena snubbed NDA presidential candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and voted to elect Congress candidate Pratibha Patil. At the local level the feeling amongst Sainiks is that BJP is acting in non-co-operative manner because of discord amongst the top leadership.
Ironically while the saffron allies are sparring in BJP state president Nitin Gadkari’s home turf, fraction fraught Congress and NCP have tied up for the bypolls. Congress will fight in four wards while NCP will contest in four.
Gadkari declined to comment. However, other party leaders said they took the decision to contest all the ten seats keeping in mind prevailing political situation.
“We had discussed the issue with Sawarbandhe. The understanding was both BJP and Sena would field its candidates in certain wards," Sudhakar Deshmukh, president of BJP’s city unit said." There is no need to create a misunderstanding. We will find out some solution before withdrawal of nominations. If Sena thinks we are breaking alliance it is their view and we don’t want to comment on it," he said.
According to BJP leaders, political situation in these wards has changed dramatically since February." The BJP promised it will select mayor from the Halba community and we did it. However, after disqualification of nine corporators on caste certificate issue even Congress-NCP are talking of justice for Halbas and accusing us of politics. The community members have even fielded some independent candidates. At this time we are under pressure from the community to give nominations to those in the community who have valid caste certificates,"a party leader said." It is difficult to get candidates who have valid certificates. Then there is always a fear that candidates may get rejected during the scrutiny of forms. In such circumstances we do not want opposition to benefit. The Halbas who have a numeric majority in many of the wards will not accept a candidate from other community. Hence we fielded candidates in all the wards," he added.
aneesh.phadnis@timesgroup.com