MUMBAI
In what may add to the troubles of the Shiv Sena-BJP combine, the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) has managed to get the support of Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for its candidates in Maval and Raigad constituencies.
PWP leader and MLC Jayant Patil said they were establishing a third front comprising the Left and smaller and sub-regional parties in Maharashtra. He, however, added that though the MNS would not be part of the front, it had entered into an "electoral adjustment with the PWP" and would be together on "crucial issues."
The third front, a loose grouping of parties like the CPM and the CPI, is largely seen as a non-starter in Maharashtra with leaders claiming that its constituents often help other parties like the Congress-NCP and the Sena-BJP for mutual political gains.
In 2009, the PWP had supported Sena candidates Gajanan Babar (Maval) and Anant Gite (Raigad). However, the PWP has now ended its alliance with the Sena and put up its candidates, who are incidentally NCP leaders.
This vote split between the Sena and the PWP may work to the advantage of the NCP nominees – water resources minister Sunil Tatkare (Raigad) and Rahul Narvekar (Maval), who crossed over from the Sena this week.
PWP fielded Ramesh Kadam from Raigad and Laxman Jagtap from Maval.
While Kadam, a Tatkare supporter, is a former MLA from Chiplun, Jagtap is an independent legislator from Chinchwad, and is affiliated to the NCP.
"We have entered into an electoral adjustment with the MNS. This is an electoral adjustment and we will be together on crucial issues... (With the MNS extending support) we have no problem in these two seats," said Patil, adding that the third front would consist of the PWP, CPM, CPI, Janata Dal (Secular) and Panhala-Shahuwadi (Kolhapur) MLA Vinay Kore-Savkar's Jana Surajya Shakti (JSS). The third front would contest in around 15 seats. He said the third front would crystallise better for the state assembly polls due late this year.
The Sena, which is already engaged in sniping with the BJP over former party chief Nitin Gadkari's overtures to the MNS, has fielded Gite, a former Union minister, while replacing Babar with Srirang Barne in Maval. The two seats are spread over the districts of Pune, Raigad and Ratnagiri.
A miffed Babar, who has spent almost four and half decades in the Sena, quit the party after leveling charges at the leadership and is likely to join the MNS.
Patil, the son of veteran PWP leader Prabhakar Narayan Patil, who is also a successful entrepreneur and has a committed base in Raigad's Agri community. He added that in return, the PWP and MLC Apurva Hire would support the MNS in Nashik where it has fielded Dr Pradeep Pawar against PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal (NCP).
The PWP, which was once the principal opposition in Maharashtra, today has four MLAs, three of whom are from Raigad, including Patil's sister Meenakshitai (Alibaug) and one from Solapur.
In 2009, Gite trounced then Union minister and former chief minister Abdul Rehman Antulay (Congress) by over 1.46 votes in Raigad, largely due to the PWP's support. In Maval, Babar, who was pitted against the NCP's Azambhai Pansare, sailed through by around 80,600 votes also due to the PWP's support and a communal undercurrent.
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