By Hanika Kashyap
Shiv Sena senior leaders are hoping to secure a larger share of seats in alliance with the BJP for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation elections, particularly in the Wadgaon Sheri assembly constituency. Their demands came forward on Friday, December 26th.
Sena sub-city organiser Uddhav Galande, attending a news conference held at the party’s contact office in Yerawada, put forward the party’s desire for at least two seats and fair representation across six wards in the assembly constituency. He also expressed that the Shiv Sena has represented Ward 5 for several years and continues to maintain a strong organisational hold.
Several discussions point that the party is likely to see fewer seats allotted to them in the seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP. Galande, however, remains strong in his stance that the party has worked equally with the BJP and operated at the grassroots level during the Lok Sabha elections.
Adding more onto why Shiv Sena deserves more seats, Galande mentions that Wadgaon Sheri is a traditional Sena stronghold, with the political party consistently polling more votes than the BJP itself over the years. He also noted Sena’s dominating presence from the gram panchayat bodies to the municipal corporation.
He noted that, given Shiv Sena’s strong base in Kharadi, Lohegaon, and Wagholi, the party should be given seats in all six wards of the Wadgaon Sheri assembly constituency.
Wadgaon Sheri assembly president Hemant Batte cited how the party has connected with the households across the constituency. Moreover, Sena Pune city coordinator Shankar Sangam emphasized the demand and highlighted how many Sena members are active in Wadgoan Sheri.
There have reportedly been some seat-sharing tensions in the party. Sena has apparently demanded 35 seats in Pune. But the BJP has only agreed to grant 15 seats. According to Shiv Sena leader Dr Neelam Gorhe, the party needs between 25 and 30 seats in the city. The party is hopeful that a resolution is underway. However, the leaders have warned that ignoring the party’s demands might weaken their alliance.