Anil Sole to contest Nagpur graduates' seat as Independent; Fadnavis warns rebels

Differences within the Mahayuti have come into the open ahead of the elections to the Legislative Council's graduates' and teachers' constituencies. The BJP has fielded former MLA Sudhakar Kohle from the Nagpur graduates' constituency. Former MLA Anil Sole has expressed displeasure over this and decided to contest as an Independent.

Sole said he will file his nomination as an Independent candidate today, October 5, at 1.30 pm. As soon as Kohle's candidature was announced, Sole's supporters had voiced their anger on social media. Sole said he decided to contest as an Independent at the request of his workers. This has created a challenge for the BJP from within in the Nagpur graduates' constituency election.

Meanwhile, open differences between the BJP and the Shinde faction have also surfaced over the Pune teachers' constituency. The BJP has given the ticket to Kaustubh Gawde. The Shinde faction has also begun preparations to field Mangesh Chivte from the seat. Chivte said he has decided to file his nomination on the instructions of Eknath Shinde.

This has brought the question of seat-sharing in the Mahayuti back to the fore. If the BJP and the Shiv Sena both field separate candidates, the two Mahayuti constituents could face each other in the Pune teachers' constituency.

All eyes are on the role of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. After his candidature was announced, Sudhakar Kohle met Fadnavis. In political circles, people are also watching whether an effort is made to placate Anil Sole and how the Pune teachers' constituency tangle is resolved.

Fadnavis has warned the rebels as they have come forward. He said those to whom the party has given candidature should contest, and those who did not get a ticket should step back. According to Fadnavis, the BJP has fielded candidates on three seats for the Legislative Council and he is confident the party will win all three. He said its allies will contest the remaining seat and he is confident they will win too. Fadnavis also said that those who still rebel after this will be spoken to.

As per the election schedule, the last date for filing nominations is October 6. Nominations will be scrutinised on October 7, and the last date for withdrawal is October 9. Voting will be held on October 23 and votes will be counted on October 27.