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Kolhapur: In a bid to quell dissent within the ranks and solidify the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s position, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is making a beeline for Kolhapur today, just three days after his previous visit to campaign for the Hatkanangle Lok Sabha constituency.
Shinde’s visit coincides with the filing of nomination papers by the Mahayuti candidate for the Kolhapur Lok Sabha seat, Sanjay Mandlik, and the candidate for the Hatkanangle constituency, Darhysheel Mane. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is also expected to join, setting the stage for a show of strength by the ruling alliance in the region.
Tackling the Rebel Challenge
The multi-cornered contest in the Hatkanangle Lok Sabha constituency has emerged as a major challenge for the Mahayuti, with rebel candidate Prakash Awade’s decision to contest as an independent casting a shadow over the alliance’s prospects.
Shinde, who met with Awade during his previous visit to Kolhapur, has been working tirelessly to defuse the rebellion. Despite a 45-minute discussion, Awade remained firm on his decision to contest, prompting the Chief Minister to make another attempt to persuade him to withdraw his candidature.
Today, Shinde is scheduled to visit Awade’s residence in Kolhapur, underscoring the significance the ruling coalition attaches to the rebel MLA’s stance. The Chief Minister’s personal intervention is seen as a last-ditch effort to prevent a split in the Mahayuti’s vote bank in Hatkanangle.
A High-Stakes Game
Political analysts suggest that Awade’s rebellion could severely impact the prospects of the Mahayuti’s candidate, Darhysheel Mane, particularly in the Ichalkaranji region, where a division of votes could prove costly.
While speculations abound regarding the potential outcome of the multi-cornered contest in Hatkanangle, with candidates from various parties, including Raju Shetty, DC Patil (Vanchit), and Satyajit Patil Sarudkar (Mahavikas Aghadi), the final verdict will be delivered on June 4.
As the high-stakes political drama unfolds in Kolhapur, all eyes are on Chief Minister Shinde’s efforts to douse the rebel fire and consolidate the Mahayuti’s position ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls.
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