Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Oct 24 – As the Shiv Sena (UBT) prepares for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections, its three MLAs in the Marathwada region are actively campaigning to raise awareness about their new symbol, the ‘mashaal’ (flaming torch), while also addressing pressing farmers’ issues.
In the previous 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the undivided Shiv Sena secured 12 seats in Marathwada. Following the party split in June 2022, three MLAs—Udaysingh Rajput (Kannad), Kailas Patil (Dharashiv-Kalamb), and Dr. Rahul Patil (Parbhani)—aligned with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and are now contesting in the upcoming polls.
The split occurred when a faction of MLAs led by Eknath Shinde revolted against Thackeray, who was then serving as chief minister. Subsequently, the Thackeray-led faction was allotted the ‘mashaal’ symbol, while Shinde’s group retained the original ‘bow and arrow’ symbol.
In an interview with PTI, Rajput emphasized the importance of Thackeray’s positive image among the electorate, largely due to his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are now aggressively working to spread awareness about our symbol ‘mashaal’ in Kannad,” he stated, adding that he would also highlight farmers’ grievances throughout his campaign. He noted that his political opponents are struggling to find a candidate to run against him.
Dr. Rahul Patil remarked on the absence of the ruling BJP’s support, asserting, “This government is corrupt, and we are working diligently to inform the public about these issues.” He pointed out that soybean purchasing remains a critical concern in his constituency, where the crop is cultivated on approximately 2.80 lakh hectares, yet there are only eight purchase centers. “If this continues, it will take a decade to purchase all the soybean produced in my constituency,” he cautioned, insisting that farmers’ issues could lead to the downfall of the ruling parties.
Kailas Patil also criticized the previous alliance with the BJP, stating, “They were with our undivided party only on paper, and their leaders actively worked against us.” He highlighted the significance of raising awareness about their symbol among constituents, particularly as the BJP is no longer associated with them, even nominally.
Patil echoed concerns regarding the insufficient number of soybean purchase centers, lamenting that crop prices are being driven down at private centers. As the election campaign intensifies, the Shiv Sena (UBT) aims to leverage both their new symbol and farmers’ issues to regain voter support in the region.
