Maha polls: Parties try to get rebels to withdraw from fray

Parties in poll-bound Maharashtra are busy trying to convince rebels to withdraw nominations, the last date of which is Monday, as failure to do so could cause a split in committed votes and possible loss.

The ruling BJP is the worst hit with 114 of its leaders throwing their hats in the poll ring against official candidates in 27 constituencies.

The BJP's efforts to rein in the rebels are being led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state minister Chandrakant Patil.

Similar efforts are also being made by the Shiv Sena, part of the ruling alliance, and the opposition Congress and NCP.

In Pandharpur Assembly segment, local Congress leader Shivajirao Kalunge has filed his nomination as an Independent though sitting Congress MLA Bharat Bhalke, who joined the NCP, is the official candidate of the opposition combine.

The seat was won by the Congress in 2014 but was handed over to the NCP as part of the seat-sharing deal between the two parties for the 2019 polls, a leader said.

In Shirol, where Congress-NCP is officially supporting Anil Madnaik, senior NCP leader Rajendra Patil Yadravkar has rebelled and filed his nomination, with leaders claiming efforts to get the latter to withdraw from the fray were underway.

After scrutiny on Saturday, the nominations of 4,739 candidates were found valid.

Nominations can be withdrawn till 3pm on Monday.