Lok Sabha elections 2024: Poaching fears on the rise in Shinde camp

One could call it the cascading effect of Raj Thackerayrsquos talks with the head honchos of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on sharing Lok Sabha seats An alarmed Shinde Sena went into a huddle on Tuesday morning to figure out what might come its way Will it be forced to give up a seat or two to the Rajled Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS Would that not be in addition to the Sena seats that the BJP is eyingRaj Thackeray with son Amit and Union Home Minister Amit ShahEyebrows were raised when a group of MPs particularly the ones whose constituencies are vulnerable to alliesrsquo demands gathered at CM Eknath Shindersquos Thane residence The boss is reported to have reassured them that they were safe Outside the meeting MP Rahul Shewale who is perhaps the most secure after Shindersquos MP son as far as their candidature is concerned told media persons that no MP was upset and everyone had faith in the CMldquoIt is the most favourable situation for the Mahayuti BJPSenaNCP to win over 45 seats in Maharashtra The NDA will surpass a 400seat mark this timerdquo he said When prodded further Shewale stated that the rumours were ruining the atmosphere in the Senaheld constituencies that faced poaching ldquoItrsquos a work of fiction by the media We have requested that the leaders from the BJP and Sena should not speak and speculate till the seatsharing is announcedrdquo added the Mumbai SouthCentral MPAt Tuesdayrsquos meeting with the CM sitting MPs Bhavana Gawali YavatmalWashim Hemand Godse Nashik Krupal Tumane Ramtek Sanjay Mandlik Kolhapur Shrirang Barne Maval Sadashiv Lokhande Shirdi and Rajendra Gavit Palghar were present CM Shinde has a task on hand to retain these constituencies which are among the 13 his party holds Five Lok Sabha MPs are with the rival factionRaj in DelhiAccompanied by his son Amit Raj Thackeray met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday There was no official response from Thackeray but his party lieutenant Bala Nandgaonkar asked the media persons to wait for two more days for an official announcement Other than Amit Thackeray Nandgaonkarrsquos name is in circulation for Mumbai South which is expected to be with the MNS if the pact happens A couple of other segments such as Nashik Pune and Shirdi are also being talked about for the MNS sharelsquoNorth Indians betrayedrsquoThe Congress said that by allying with Raj Thackerayrsquos MNS the BJP had betrayed north Indian voters ldquoThe BJP has hurt the north Indian peoplersquos pride and rubbed salt on the woundsrdquo said chief spokesperson Atul Londhe recalling the attacks on North Indians that involved the MNS cadre Londhe said the MNS had opposed Chhat Puja as well ldquoIn a bid to cross the 400 mark the BJP has been forced to ally with anyone who comes their way The fact that the BJP has to forge an alliance with Raj Thackeray means that they are staring at defeatrdquo he added furtherlsquoBJP stealing one more ThackerayrsquoAddressing a rally in Hingoli Uddhav Thackeray said since the BJP could not get votes in the name of Modi it was about to steal one more Thackeray ldquoThey stole Babasahebrsquos photo It made no difference Today they have attempted to steal one more Thackeray They have realised that in Maharashtra only Thackeray can get them votesrdquo he said