Lok Sabha elections 2024: Two Senas feature in Buldhana showdown

ldquoWill you vote for someone who has only given you empty promises and done nothing for yourdquo asked Uddhav Thackeray during a late Sunday evening public meeting in Khamgaon Buldhana The Buldhana Lok Sabha constituency in Vidarbha is poised for a showdown between the two factions of Shiv Sena during the second phase of polling on April 26Incubment MP Prataprao Jadhav representing Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde doesnt see a significant threat from Professor Narendra Khedekar the candidate from Sena UBT Jadhav anticipates that Khedekar might face challenges due to a potential vote split with Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi on the one side and a farmer leader eating into the Maha Vikas Aghadirsquos MVA share on the other Conversely Shiv Sena UBT is optimistic about a sweeping victory citing antiincumbency sentiments among the constituencyrsquos populaceUddhav Thackeray at the Buldhana rally on SundayKhedekarrsquos confidence is boosted by consecutive rallies by Uddhav Thackeray and other political heavyweights like Sharad Pawar alongside leaders from the Maharashtra cadre of MVA such as Mukul Wasnik of Congress He asserts that the historical support from Chikhli in Buldhana the first place to host a major rally in support of Thackeray after Shindersquos rebellion in 2022 ensures strong backing from the peopleActive engagementUddhav Thackeray has actively engaged in meetings with party workers in the region even before the Lok Sabha elections were announced demonstrating proactive leadership Local Shiv Sena UBT workers perceive his assertive rallies as an advantage over the Shinde faction of Sena On Sunday Thackeray accompanied by his younger son Tejas Thackeray arrived at the venue of the public meeting in Khamgaon to support Khedekar Addressing the meeting Thackeray said ldquoI visited Buldhana last month too but compared to last time the temperature is soaring Not just due to the weather but due to the enthusiasm of the people of Buldhana and VidarbhardquoHe continued ldquoThe rival here is none other than a lsquogaddarrsquo traitor the one who didnrsquot spare the same party where he grew and became what he is today Itrsquos as good as betraying your own motherrsquos milk Cracking a whip on the Modi government and accusing the BJP government of neglecting farmers Thackeray asked the crowd ldquoWhen the farmers were in trouble did he ever visit you But now for elections he is coming to your doorsteps again and again Has Modi and Amit Shah ever come to this part of the country to help farmers and wipe the tears of farm widowsShiv Sena UBT supporters turned up in large numbers at the school ground where the rally was held PicsSatej ShindeHe is only using you and his only agenda here is lsquotumhi jaga kivva marahellip pan mala pant pradhan karahellip you live or die but make me the prime ministerrsquo In the last 10 years just barring our term on the statehellip what development projects has the Modi government brought to Vidarbha It was in 2014hellip Modi promised you that MSP on crops would be increased has he fulfilled his promise No growth in the industry sector no facilities to farmershellip All the industry and development are going to Gujarat instead If tomorrow an MVA and INDIA government comes we will not take away what Gujarat deserves but unlike now we will not take away from Maharashtra and give to GujaratlsquoHave you received cashrsquoThackeray also slammed the Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana He asked the crowd ldquoAre you getting calls from BJPs office Are they inquiring if you have received money Have you actually received the money under the Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana If not then I ask you will you vote for Modi Also those who have got the money how much have you gotmdashRs 6000 Now imagine if a farmer buys fertiliser worth R1 lakh he has to pay Rs 18000 as GST Now you get R6000 under the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme Where does the remaining Rs 12000 go It goes in the Modi governmentrsquos pocketrdquoVacuum cleanerTalking about the defection of leaders from across party lines to the BJP Thackeray said BJP leaders are like a vacuum cleaner the Modi government keeps scouring for the most corrupt leaders across parts when found their leaders like a vacuum cleaner suck them into their party he said He added ldquoBy taking away our party symbol and by stealing our party name you claim to have ended Uddhav Thackeray Fine if you have then why are you coming back to MaharashtraHe added ldquoLike always I call Bharatiya Janata Party the bhadkhav janta pakshahellip Their policies are policies that will push the country into a ditchhellip I want to tell Modi sarkar you might have ED and the CBIhellip but I have millions of fingers who will press the buttonhellip and vote you outrdquo Concluding his address Thackeray appealed to the crowd not to waste their votes by voting for independents ldquoVote for MVA candidates if you wish to see development and end the dictatorship I promise you this Now you have to choose between my promise and Modirsquos guaranteehellip Ensure that you vote for Khedekar in large numbers so that the gaddarrsquos deposit is forfeitedrdquoMeanwhile Jadhav relies on vote consolidation under the Mahayuti umbrella especially after the inclusion of NCP Ajit Pawar in the alliance last year Jalinder Budhwat president of Shiv Sena UBT in Buldhana district dismissed the possibility of a vote split or a threeway contest affirming that the election will be a direct faceoff between sitting MP Jadhav and Khedekar Budhwat highlights a growing antiincumbency sentiment against Jadhav citing unfulfilled promises and projects He also underscored the enduring support for Thackeray evident from the significant turnout at rallies even after the split within the party The candidacy of farmer leader Ravikant Tupkar although prominent in the district is deemed unlikely to significantly impact the MVArsquos electoral prospects as per Khedekar and Budhwat2022Year Sena split took place