Maharashtra Assembly elections: Nilesh Rane moves to Sena as open season begins in the state
The BJP faces a setback in Navi Mumbai as Sandeep Naik switches sides to join the NCP (SP), while Rane and Rajkumar Badole move to the BJP’s allies as part of a seat adjustment within the ruling coalition.
Nilesh Rane, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, announced on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, his decision to switch allegiance to the Shiv Sena under Eknath Shinde’s leadership. He disclosed his intention to run for the Kudal Assembly constituency. Concurrently, Rajkumar Badole, another BJP member, opted to align with the NCP led by Ajit Pawar in preparation for the upcoming Maharashtra elections.
The BJP faced a setback in Navi Mumbai as its leader Sandeep Naik switched allegiance to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), while Mr. Nilesh Rane and Mr. Badole moved to the BJP’s allies in a seat-adjustment within the ruling coalition.
According to sources within the party, Mr. Nilesh Rane, who is the son of BJP MP Narayan Rane, is set to switch from the BJP to Shiv Sena due to the seat-sharing agreement within the Mahayuti alliance, which assigns the Kudal constituency to the Shiv Sena.
Shiv Sena’s Vaibhav Naik, a longstanding opponent of the Ranes, serves as the present MLA of Kudal within the Lok Sabha area of Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, belonging to Mr. Narayan Rane.
In 2009 to 2014, Mr. Nilesh Rane represented Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg as an MP while being affiliated with the Congress party. Upon switching allegiance to the BJP in 2014, he contested in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, both of which he lost.
Sources have indicated that Sandeep Naik, a former MLA, has recently aligned himself with the NCP (SP) and is expected to run for office in Belapur. This move sets up a potential electoral showdown with Manda Mhatre, the incumbent MLA from the BJP and a known local competitor.
In the Navi Mumbai area, Mr. Sandeep Naik’s father, the influential former Minister Ganesh Naik, has been chosen by the BJP to run for reelection in the Airoli constituency.
The longstanding rivalry between the Naik clan and Mr. Mhatre continues to polarize the Belapur district, known for its sizable Agri-Koli population.
In another place, Mr. Badole, a former Maharashtra Minister, made the decision to join the NCP, a constituent of the governing coalition. Previously, he had been victorious in the elections of 2009 and 2014 from the Arjuni-Morgaon constituency while representing the BJP.
Sources indicated that since the NCP currently holds the seat, Mr. Badole decided to join the NCP as it seemed to offer him better opportunities.
Malik’s support won’t be endorsed.
Ashish Shelar, a prominent figure in the BJP, expressed strong opposition to the potential candidacy of Nawab Malik from the NCP. The Mumbai BJP president firmly stated that they are firmly against endorsing any individual associated with the notorious underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim. Shelar emphasized that the party categorically rejects the idea of supporting Malik and will maintain a distinct position on this matter.
In light of media speculations, it was indicated that Mr. Malik, the incumbent MLA representing Anushakti Nagar in Mumbai South Central parliamentary constituency, might potentially shift his electoral battleground to Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar. This move could pave the way for his daughter, Sana, to enter the political arena by inheriting the Anushakti Nagar constituency.
On November 20, a single-phase assembly election is scheduled to take place in Maharashtra.
