2 Mahayuti 'rebel rousers' win, 2 scuttle allies' hopes

PUNE: Only two of more than 70 rebels across Maharashtra, who threw their hats into the electoral ring as independents after being sidelined for nominations, managed to secure victories. In Akola West and Partur constituencies, the rebels dented the chances of alliance candidates by polling votes more than the winning margin, assembly election results declared on Saturday show.

Sharad Sonawane, who was in the race for a Shiv Sena ticket, defeated NCP(SP)'s Satyahseel Sherkar in Junnar by 6,664 votes. Mahayuti nominee and sitting MLA Atul Benke (NCP) managed to get third spot. Similarly, BJP rebel Shivaji Patil trounced NCP's Rajesh Narsingrao Patil by 24,134 votes to bag Chandgad. Both the constituencies were allocated to deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's faction, which resulted in rebellion within Mahayuti.

Among the 4,136 candidates who contested assembly polls this time, 2,096 were independents. However, except for Sonawane and Patil, no other rebels/independents could make a mark. "People voted against the dynasty politics in Chandgad. It is a victory of common BJP workers. We have planned several initiatives which I will implement in the constituency with the help of the new Mahayuti govt," Shivaji Patil told reporters.

Supporters of Sonawane claimed CM Eknath Shinde arranged a helicopter to fly him to Mumbai soon after he was declared winner.

In Akkalkuwa, former MP Heena Gavit rebelled against BJP, while in Nandgaon, NCP politician and former MLA Sameer Bhujbal contested as an independent after the seats were allocated to Shiv Sena. Gavit stood third and Bhujbal ranked second.

In Sangli, Congress's Jayashree Patil received 32,736 votes, while MVA's official candidate Prithviraj Patil lost by 36,135 votes. In Akola West, BJP's Harish Alimchandani got 21,481 votes, significantly higher than the number - 1,283 - Mahayuti nominee Vijay Agrawal would have needed to script victory. Congress rebel Sureshkumar Jethaliya polled 53,921 votes in Partur, spoiling the chances of the Mahayuti candidate who lost by 4,720 votes.

In some seats, vote share of rebels - Sena (UBT)'s Priti Sanjay Band in Badnera, NCP(SP)'s Satyajeet Patankar in Patan, and Congress's Rajendra Mulak to name a few - was more than that of alliances' official candidates.