Eknath Shinde to field Shiv Sena candidates against BJP in Rajasthan polls

Eknath Shinde to field Shiv Sena candidates against BJP in
Rajasthan polls

This time aroumd Assembly polls in Rajasthan will witness candidates from Shiv Sena, placing them in a direct contest with their NDA ally, the BJP on most seats.

Sources reveal that regardless being an allied partner in the NDA, Shiv Sena will have a straight fight against its ally, the BJP in most of the seats, sources said.

Shinde formed a government with the BJP in Maharashtra in June 2022 and was elected the Chief Minister of the state.

Now Shinde’s Shiv Sena will contest 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan, most of them against the BJP.

As per sources, CM Eknath Shinde has also written a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI), on fielding of Sena candidates in the upcoming Rajasthan elections.

The Sena has even urged the poll body to allow them to use the ‘bow and arrow’ symbol to contest in the polls.

Reportedly, Rajasthan recently witnessed a major political upheaval due to ‘red diary’ revelations by minister Rajendra Singh Gudha, who had joined Shinde’s Sena.

Gudha has now been officially announced as a Shiv Sena candidate from his stronghold Udaipurwati assembly constituency in Rajasthan.

The BJP interestingly has fielded Shubhkaran Chaudhary as its candidate against Gudha from the constituency.

Meanwhile, the Congress was yet to announce its candidate from Udaipurwati.

The Election Commission on October 11 changed the date of polling for the Rajasthan assembly elections from November 23 to November 25, citing “large-scale” weddings and social engagements.

In a statement, the EC revealed that the decision was taken following representations by various parties and social organisations for a change of the date of the poll “considering large-scale wedding/social engagements on that day (November 23) which may inconvenience a large number of people, various logistic issues and lead to reduced voters participation during poll.

The counting of votes will take place as scheduled on December 3, along with the same for four other state assembly polls.

News Edit K.V.Raman