Maharashtra Lok Sabha bypolls to witness four-cornered contest

While the BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi have fielded candidates in Palghar, it will be a direct contest between BJP and NCP in Bhandara-Gondia seat.

The May 28 bypolls for two Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra are set to be a tough contest with a four party face-off in the Palghar constituency and a two-party contest in the Bhandara-Gondia constituency.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will take on its ally in the Centre and the state Shiv Sena in Palghar with the Congress and the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) also fielding candidates while the Bhandara-Gondia seat will see a direct contest between the BJP and the National Congress Party (NCP).

Monday was the last day for withdrawing nominations. The bypolls are expected to clear party positions for 2019.

Bypolls for the two seats were declared following the death of Palghar BJP MP Chantaman Wanga and BJP MP Nana Patole, resigning from the party.

The Shiv Sena has fielded Chantaman Wanga’s son Shrinivas Wanga from Palghar.

This is the first time the Sena has fielded a candidate for a seat held by its ally since the two formed the government. For the contest in the Bhandara-Gondia seat, the Congress and the NCP have come together.

Meanwhile, Congress candidate Vishwajeet Kadam was elected unopposed from the Palus-Kadegaon assembly constituency after BJP candidate Sangram Singh Deshmukh withdrew his nomination on Monday. The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of Congress leader Patangrao Kadam.