Shinde asks Dhangekar to show restraint as BJP, Sena trade charges over Pune graduates' poll loss

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has advised Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Ravindra Dhangekar to show patience. Shinde has told Dhangekar not to make statements that cause discontent in the Mahayuti. The advice comes as tempers run high after the result of the Pune graduates' constituency election.

Elections were held recently in the state for five seats of the Legislative Council. These were the Nagpur graduates', Marathwada graduates', Pune graduates' and teachers', and Amravati teachers' constituencies. The Mahayuti suffered a major setback. It won only two seats, Pune teachers' and Amravati teachers'. The Maha Vikas Aghadi won all three graduates' constituencies. The Nagpur seat went to the Congress, while the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) won Marathwada and Pune graduates'.

The BJP had fielded Smita Jadhav from the Pune graduates' constituency. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) gave its ticket for the same seat to Harshada Deshmukh, who won. Jadhav appeared to have suffered from resentment within the Mahayuti. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Ravindra Dhangekar had openly taken a stand against Smita Jadhav.

After the defeat, the BJP is holding the Shiv Sena and Ravindra Dhangekar responsible. BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban launched a sharp attack on Dhangekar over this. He also targeted Eknath Shinde on the issue. Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Nilesh Rane then also took an aggressive stance and hit back at Navnath Ban.

With tempers running high, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde advised Dhangekar to be patient. Shinde said clearly that no statements should be made that cause discontent in the Mahayuti. The exchange of accusations between the Shiv Sena and the BJP after the election result is still continuing.