Would Have Won 20-22 Seats In Maharashtra Team Uddhav MP Sanjay Raut
Sanjay Raut Challenges Shiv Sena to Contest Polls Independently
21.06.2024: Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut declared that his party could have secured 20 to 22 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra had its original name and symbol not been taken away following the 2022 coup. Raut has challenged the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to contest the upcoming assembly polls under a different name and symbol.
Legal Battle Over Election Symbols
Raut emphasized that the party will approach the Supreme Court to seek a stay on the July 12 biennial elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council. This move comes as MLAs from the ruling coalition parties, Shiv Sena and NCP, face potential disqualification.
Election Performance
Despite losing the party name and symbol, the Shiv Sena (UBT) still managed to secure nine Lok Sabha seats in the previous election using the “flaming torch” symbol. Raut argued that with the original name and symbol, the party could have won significantly more seats. Maharashtra, holding 48 Lok Sabha seats, is a crucial battleground.
Impact of the 2022 Split
Following the 2022 split of the party founded by Bal Thackeray, the Election Commission allocated the Shiv Sena name and the “bow and arrow” symbol to Eknath Shinde’s faction. The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction had to contest with a new symbol but remained a key player in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance alongside the Congress and NCP (SP). The Shinde-led Sena secured seven seats.
Supreme Court Involvement
Raut referred to observations made by the Supreme Court regarding the disqualification pleas of ruling Shiv Sena and NCP MLAs. He argued that it would be unconstitutional for these MLAs to elect MLCs while their disqualification is under review. The Shiv Sena (UBT) plans to contest this issue in the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the council elections.
Ongoing Political Turmoil
The political landscape in Maharashtra has been turbulent, with the NCP experiencing a split in July 2023 when senior leader Ajit Pawar joined the Sena-BJP government. Ajit Pawar now serves as a Deputy Chief Minister.
Uddhav Thackeray’s Stand
Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), has also voiced concerns over the council elections. He asserted that no elections should be held for the Legislative Council seats until the Supreme Court rules on the disqualification pleas of certain MLAs.