Mahadev jhankar latest news
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RSP chief Mahadev Jankar’s move to fight all seats may divide OBC votes, affect Mahayuti
Jankar said he would not be a part of Mahayuti or join MVA since he intended to grow his own party. He said assembly polls were the best platform to promote his party and workers.
Speaking to TOI, Jankar said, “My party is planning to field candidates on all 288 seats in Maharashtra. So far, we have shortlisted names for 242 seats. We will finalise the remaining over the next few days. It is time to grow our party and initiate as many members as possible into the assembly.”
Mahayuti and MVA had both tried to rope in Jankar for Lok Sabha (LS) elections. Initially, he had discussions with Sharad Pawar, but finally joined Mahayuti and was nominated for the Parbhani seat. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held a rally in his support. However, after his LS defeat, Jankar decided to quit the alliance.
“I got due respect from Mahayuti during LS polls. However, when the alliance
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Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: ‘Mahayuti strategy is to use, break, and finish smaller parties,’ says RSP chief Mahadev Jankar
Q: Seat sharing is based on the winnability factor?
Jankar: In the 2014 Assembly elections, RSP candidate Rahul Kul was elected from the Daund constituency. In 2019, the BJP got him to contest on their party symbol. He won. The point is, the survival of smaller parties within alliances is difficult. The BJP does not help smaller parties grow. It weakens them by getting winning candidates to its side.
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In such a situation, I decided to walk out and contest alone. We will field candidates in maximum constituencies across Maharashtra. My concern is neither power nor ministerial post. We want to electorally consolidate our base and ensure some candidates get elected. We want to become kingmakers. If there is a hung Assembly, every MLA’s support will become crucial. Both Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will scout for smaller parties’ support.
Q: When Devendra Fadnavis was CM, he made you a cabinet minister in the BJP-Shiv Sena government. Later, you were made MLC? What went wrong?
Jankar: Personally, I have nothing against Fadnavis or anybody in the BJP. I took the decision to distance myself from the alliance