Following days of negotiation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has yielded the Kalyan Lok Sabha seat to its ally, the Shiv Sena. Currently held by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the decision was endorsed by Deputy Chief Minister and BJP Leader Devendra Fadnavis.
“Shrikant Shinde will be the joint candidate of our alliance. The BJP fully supports his candidature and aims for his victory by a larger margin,” stated Fadnavis while addressing reporters in Nagpur.
This decision comes after a period of dispute where the BJP initially sought the seat for itself, citing its larger representation of MLAs in Kalyan. Internal discord within the local BJP leadership, owing allegiance to jailed BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, further complicated matters. Gaikwad’s supporters have expressed reluctance to campaign for Shrikant Shinde due to ongoing political and property disputes.
While the Kalyan seat issue has been resolved, tensions persist over other constituencies. The BJP continues to seek the Thane Lok Sabha seat from the Shiv Sena, who is reluctant to relinquish it, considering it Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s stronghold. Additionally, the BJP is pressing for the Nashik Lok Sabha seat, despite opposition from the Shiv Sena, which currently holds a sitting MP. Disputes also exist over the Mumbai South and Ratnagiri Sindhudurg seats, each party advocating for their respective candidates.
