NAGPUR: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has fulfilled his promise by nominating former Shiv Sena MPs Kurpal Tumane and Bhavana Gawali for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (MLC) elections. Eleven MLC posts will be filled in the elections, scheduled for July 12. Tumane and Gawali were denied the bid to contest the Lok Sabha polls due to strong opposition from the BJP. However, the Sena has lost both its strongholds in Ramtek and Yavatmal-Wasim constituencies to Maha Vikas Aghadi candidates. Tumane, a two-time MP from Ramtek constituency, submitted his nomination for the MLC post to Chief Minister Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state Education Minister Chandrakant Patil on Tuesday. Gawali, a three-time MP from Yavatmal-Wasim constituency and twice from the former Yavatmal constituency, is also a candidate. The BJP opposed Tumane’s candidature, claiming that he lacked sufficient support and was likely to lose. The party’s urban unit had already selected its candidate for the constituency, but Shinde insisted on maintaining the Sena’s presence in eastern Vidarbha. As a compromise, the two parties agreed to field former Umred assemblyman Raju Palwe, who had defected from the Congress, as the Sena’s official candidate. However, Palwe lost to Congress candidate Rajkumar Barve, ending the Sena’s hold on the constituency. In an interview with TOI, Tumane blamed Maharashtra BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule for his exclusion. Tumane alleged that Bawankule had told Shinde that if he was re-elected, he would not guarantee him the seat and would instead field Palwe. Similarly, the BJP opposed Gawali’s re-nomination citing corruption allegations against her, raising suspicions amongst Mahayuti Party supporters. Despite being the front-runner, the Sena nominated Rajashri Patil, wife of Hingoli MP Hemant Patil, as part of the deal after Patil was denied candidacy, also due to BJP objections, citing concerns over the ongoing investigation by the central agency. Gawali thanked the chief minister for keeping his promise and said she was looking forward to starting her new role. “I am grateful to the chief minister for believing in me. Whatever post is given to me, I will do my best,” she said.
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