Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024: In Maval, trouble mounts for NCP MLA Sunil Shelke as BJP threatens to rock his boat

“We are opposing the candidature of Shelke. We bash not privation to spot him arsenic a Mahayuti candidate. If helium is fielded, the full BJP fertile and record volition run against him,” Nitin Marathe, the BJP’s Maval younker president, told The Indian Express connected Saturday.

Marathe alleged that Shelke had appointed his “own ministry of sorts” successful Maval. “He had appointed a antheral to look aft constabulary stations and chowkies wherever his squad would unit the constabulary to record mendacious cases against BJP workers and leaders,” Marathe claimed.

Though helium admitted that immoderate improvement works related to roads and energy person taken spot successful the constituency, Marathe said that Shelke has ne'er behaved good towards the BJP. “In specified a scenario, however volition anyone expect america to enactment him? We volition not enactment him travel what may,” Marathe added.

Marathe claimed that adjacent NCP leaders successful Maval were fed up with him. “There are astatine slightest two-three leaders from NCP who privation to contention the election. If they are fielded by NCP, we volition enactment them but not Shelke,” helium said.

NCP person Babu Bhegde is 1 specified leader. Bhegde said helium was funny successful contesting the Maval Assembly poll. “I person met Ajit Pawar who has told maine that my sanction arsenic good arsenic that of Shelke was nether information for the Maval seat. I americium waiting for the party’s nod,” helium said.

Meanwhile, NCP Maval taluka president Ganesh Khandge denied immoderate cognition of the BJP’s allegations. “The allegations against Shelke mightiness person been made during the meetings. I person nary cognition astir them. I person been heading the enactment successful Maval for 2 years. As acold arsenic I know, the Mahayuti is agreed successful Maval,” helium said.

Khandge said that during the 2019 Assembly elections, Ajit Pawar had roped successful Shelke from the BJP. “At that time, we were each blessed due to the fact that we thought we had a bully accidental to triumph the Maval spot aft a agelong time. Ajit Pawar had besides promised america improvement funds if we got Shelke elected. Accordingly, Shelke was elected and our enactment main kept his word. He sanctioned funds worthy Rs 4,000 crore for improvement projects successful Maval seat,” Khandge said.

Meanwhile, Shelke blamed “some individuals” for trying to make a rift successful the enactment successful Maval. “The Mahayuti is beardown and agreed successful Maval and I americium assured of getting renomination,” helium said. Shelke added if anyone tried to destabilise the enactment successful Maval, helium would publically uncover their names.

Political expert Vivek Inamdar said the BJP has been winning the Maval Assembly spot since 1995, lone to beryllium defeated aft 25 years successful 2019. “Before that, the Congress dominated the Maval seat,” helium said.

Rooplekha Dhore of the BJP archetypal won the Maval spot successful 1995, followed by Digambar Bhegde and Bala Bhegde. Shelke, who was besides with the BJP earlier, joined the NCP and won the spot successful 2019.