Patole, a leader of the powerful OBC Kunbi community, had switched side from the Congress to the BJP and was elected as an MP from the constituency in Vidarbha in 2014 by defeating former union minister and NCP heavyweight Praful Patel.Read: Sena back-stabbed BJP; India can progress only under PM Modi: Yogi Adityanath"Lord Ram will emerge from the ballot box, wielding bow and arrow (Senas symbol) and win this seat," it said. As many as 18 candidates are in fray in Bhandara- Gondia and seven in Palghar. Kiran Raja Gahla of the CPI-M, which has a base in Talasari and Dahanu, and former MP Damu Shingada (Congress) are also contesting in a multi-cornered fight from the seat reserved for scheduled tribes (ST).Read: Win by-election by all means, says Fadnavis on audio clip released by Shiv SenaRead: Maharashtra CM releases 14-minute long audio clip to silence Shiv SenaAn editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Monday said its nominee will win the Palghar seat, despite the BJP roping in UP CM Yogi Adityanath in the poll campaign.
In Palghar, out of the 2,097 polling booths, 14 are listed as critical, while in Bhandara-Gondia, out of 2,149 polling booths, 71 are situated in Naxal-hit areas and 113 are listed as critical. Counting of votes will be undertaken on May 31.The NCP, which has allied with the Congress, has fielded former BJP MLA Madhukar Kukde, against BJPs Hemant Patle, who belongs to the Powar community and is also a former legislator.Read: Shiv Sena accuses BJP of bribing voters ahead of Maharashtra bypollsDuring a rally, Uddhav played an audio clip wherein Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis purportedly exhorted party China boundary cable cadre to win the elections "by all means possible.The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) led by Vasai-Virar strongman Hitendra Thakur is also in the fray with the nomination of its ex-MP Baliram Jadhav.
The BJPs bickering ally Shiv Sena has fielded the late MPs son Srinivas in a bid to garner the sympathy vote.The Sena has accused the BJP of distributing cash to voters.The constituency includes extended suburbs of Mumbai such as Vasai, Virar, Nalasopara, and Palghar in the newly-created Palghar district.There are total 3,49,1218 voters.. In Bhandara-Gondia, the BJP and the NCP have locked horns in the bypoll, being held after the resignation of BJP MP Nana Patole.The BJP has put up former Congress minister Rajendra Gavit." Fadnavis said the audio recording was doctored.There was no untoward incident at any polling booth so far, police said.Mumbai: The by-elections to Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra began on Monday morning for which all major parties have gone all out as the outcome is likely to have a bearing on their future course.In Palghar, the bypoll was necessitated following the death of BJPs Chintaman Wanaga.
