Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale says Mahayuti gave up some seats in Satara bank polls to keep alliance united

Public Works Minister Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale visited a polling station on Sunday while voting was under way for the Satara District Central Cooperative Bank election. Speaking to reporters afterwards, he explained his stand on the seat-sharing. He said that in allocating seats, preserving the unity of the Mahayuti was given priority over local political strength.

He acknowledged that Satara taluka has the highest voting strength, yet had to settle for fewer seats than expected. He said the decision was taken to avoid conflict within the Mahayuti and to follow the instructions of senior leaders.

He put forward this stand as the seat-sharing for the district bank was being discussed in the district's political circles. He said the Mahayuti government is working together in the state, so coordination among the constituent parties was needed in the district's elections too. In keeping with that thinking, compromises had to be made in some places despite his own strength.

He said that although both voting strength and political strength are greater in Satara taluka, there was no insistence on getting seats in proportion. He said some seats were given up so that the other constituents of the Mahayuti also get due representation. He clarified that the decision was not taken merely with local political advantage in mind, but for the wider interest of the alliance.

Earlier, during the Zilla Parishad elections, conflict had arisen among the Mahayuti constituents. Special efforts were under way at the senior level to ensure such conflict did not recur in the district bank election. The leadership's view was that if differences grew at the local level, it could affect the Mahayuti's overall political equations.

The policy in seat-sharing was therefore to take all constituent parties along. Bhosale said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had entrusted him with the responsibility of coordination. He said he had discharged this responsibility sincerely, as per the instructions given by senior leaders.

He acknowledged that despite Satara taluka having the highest voting strength, it had to settle for fewer seats to give other constituents a chance. The thrust of his remarks was that local political strength matters, but keeping an alliance together needs accommodation and coordination. The explanation may revive discussion on the seat-sharing. Attention now turns to how the withdrawal by Satara's leaders to preserve unity will affect future political equations.