Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election voting has already taken place, and only a few days remain. Meanwhile, Mahayuti and Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) have disclosed their rebel leaders, and actions against them have escalated. Mahayuti leader Mahesh Gaikwad, along with nine other officials involved in anti-party activities, has been suspended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. Concurrently, Shivsena (UBT) has established a party, imposing a 5% fine on those who breach discipline. The officials have been removed. While Congress Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) has declared its official candidates for the coalition, all party candidates opposing them have been suspended for six years.
Kalyan’s city leader Mahesh Gaikwad, along with nine other members of the ruling coalition Mahayuti, has been suspended for reportedly engaging in activities against the party during the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Mahesh Gaikwad gained media attention in February this year when BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad fired at him within a police station in Ulhasnagar city over a longstanding feud. Ganpat Gaikwad is presently incarcerated, and the BJP has nominated his wife as his substitute.
Gopal Landge, the Kalyan district chief of Shiv Sena, stated that Mahayuti members, such as Mahesh Gaikwad, were acting contrary to the party’s directives and not adhering to the party’s guidelines during the ongoing elections. As a result, this step was implemented.
Defying the party’s directive, Mahesh Gaikwad is running as an independent candidate from Kalyan East opposing Mahayuti’s Sulabha Gaikwad. Previously, the BJP had opposed the party’s stance.
Forty leaders and officials from 37 electoral districts were removed for defying directives and breaching party discipline. The governing Mahayuti in Maharashtra includes Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP.
Conversely, Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday dismissed Rupesh Kadam, ex-corporator Raju Pednekar, Mohit Pednekar, Bhagyashree Abhale, and Govind Waghmare due to anti-party actions. Raju Pednekar submitted his nomination as an independent contender from Versova, where the Shiv Sena (UBT) has nominated former corporator Haroon Khan.
Previously, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray also removed five dissenting leaders for actions against the party. The leaders consist of Bhiwandi East MLA Rupesh Mhatre, Vishwas Nandekar, Chandrakant Ghugul, Sanjay Awari, and Prasad Thackeray. The Uddhav faction has suggested that more rebels may be expelled from the party soon.
Mhatre submitted his nomination as an independent candidate for Bhiwandi East, where incumbent Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh represents the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Voting for the 288 seats within the state will take place in one phase on November 20. The outcomes will be announced on November 23.