MVA and Mahayuti convince most rebels to drop out of race for Maharashtra assembly polls

The ruling Mahayuti and Opposition MVA have managed to reduce the impact of the rebel candidates to a large extent as several of them withdrew their nominations on Monday, the last day of withdrawal of nominations for Maharashtra assembly polls.

The day also witnessed the two alliances engaging in some embarrassing fiascos.

In dramatic scenes, Madhurima Raje, the official Congress candidate withdrew her nomination from Kolhapur North just minutes before the deadline of 3pm. Raje withdrew her nomination after efforts to get the Congress rebel candidate Ramesh Latkar withdraw from the contest were not successful.


"We will extend our support Latkar," said Shahu Chhatrapati, Congress MP from Kolhapur.

In Mahim, BJP's attempts to get ally Shiv Sena (Shinde) to persuade its candidate Sada Sarvankar to withdraw his name from the contest in favour of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena candidate Amit Thackeray failed.

But elsewhere in the state, BJP had some success in getting several of its rebel candidates to withdraw from contests, including in Mumbai's Borivali where former BJP MP Gopal Shetty withdrew his name. Similarly, BJP rebels in Gadchiroli, Guhagar, Sangli, Pathardi, Karjat Jamkhed, Mehkar, Buldhana, Khanapur are among a few constituencies where the BJP rebels withdrew from the contests.

The Shiv Sena (Shinde) which had put up its candidates in Anushakti Nagar and Dindori seats against two NCP (Ajit group) candidates also decided to withdraw them.

The MVA, too, had some success in persuading some of its rebel candidates to withdraw.