In Ramtek, the sitting MP is Krupal Tumane, a Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader. In 2019, the BJP and undivided Shiv Sena had contested the election together.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to concede Ramtek Lok Sabha seat for the BJP, state party president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Saturday.
Addressing the media after the Election Commission announced the dates of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Bawankule said, “If Shinde agrees to leave Ramtek constituency for the BJP we will be happy. All the five constituencies — Gadchiroli, Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur, Nagpur and Ramtek have been shortlisted for the first phase and are in the Vidarbha region.”
Bawankule said, “We have urged Shinde not to claim Ramtek seat as there is a lot of demand for this constituency from our local unit. We are hoping Shinde will consider our request.”
In Ramtek, the sitting MP is Krupal Tumane, a Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader. In 2019, the BJP and undivided Shiv Sena had contested the election together.
The Ramtek Lok Sabha seat was contested and won by the Shiv Sena. After the split in Sena, Tumane was among the 13 MPs out of the 19 who switched loyalty from Uddhav Thackeray to the Shinde faction.
The Shinde Faction argues that as per norms, each party has the right to claim a seat if it has a sitting member.
However, the BJP’s decision to claim Ramtek seat is based on electoral dynamics. The BJP local unit maintained it has a better organisational base. In 2019 too, the Shiv Sena candidate won because of BJP’s support, the party claims.
Executing confidence of poll preparedness, Bawankule said, “We will drive these elections from the grass roots. The 97,000 booths are our real strength. Our focus will be on the booth levels.”
“The Lok Sabha 2024 Elections will be contested by the BJP keeping in mind all the laid norms. We will take extra caution and tell our workers to strictly adhere to the poll code of conduct,” he stressed.
“We will go to polls with a sportsman spirit,” Bawankule assured. Adding, “Maharashtra has had a rich culture of parties past crossing the limits. Keeping that tradition in mind, we will ensure the elections are violence free.”
“The seat sharing between the BJP and the Shiv Sena over the second and third phase constituencies have almost been decided. In fact, even the candidates have been finalised from these seats; except for Ramtek, where we are insisting, and Buldhana, which our allies are seeking, all others have been finalised.”
Bawankule also said by March 25, the final deals will be revealed.
REFRED BY indianexpress.com
