Maharashtra: In an effort to silence critics, Fadnavis and Ajit

Maharashtra’s chief minister, Eknath Shinde, and deputy chief ministers, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, have reached out to dissident politicians in an attempt to appease them as the governing Mahayuti coalition is facing mutiny in a number of Lok Sabha seats.

Separate dissident meetings were organized by Fadnavis and Pawar at their Malabar Hill residences in Mumbai. The BJP has already renominated its MP, Ranjeet Naik Nimbalkar, in the Madha Lok Sabha seat. Fadnavis met with the family of these candidates, former deputy chief minister Vijaysingh Mohite Patil and Ramraje Nimbalkar.

Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar.
Maha dissent as all three players—Ajit Pawar, Eknath Shinde, and Devendra Fadnavis—are struck by a flag of rebellion.
Dhaval Singh Mohite Patil, the nephew of Mohite Patil, has begun campaigning in Madha. The BJP wants to include MNS in the Maha seat-sharing agreement. Vijay Shivtare, the head of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, has also declared his candidacy from Baramati against Sunetra Pawar, the wife of Ajit Pawar, the Mahayuti candidate. He received two calls from Shinde at his house asking him not to run, but he is determined to beat Ajit’s wife. Fadnavis has taken on the duty of appeasing Shivtare at Ajit’s request.

On Wednesday, Fadnavis also met with former minister Harshavardhan Patil and his daughter Ankita, asking them to support Ajit’s wife while putting their previous grudges behind. Sunil Shelake, an NCP MLA in Maval headed by Ajit Pawar, has threatened to run against the candidate of the governing coalition if Vijay Shivtare doesn’t retire. NCP leader Anant Paranjape has made threats to run against Shinde’s son Srikant Shinde in Kalyan as well.