# Maharashtra MLC Polls: Rift in Mahayuti as Eknath Shinde Backs Independent in Pune Against BJP Candidate

> Internal friction within the ruling Mahayuti alliance has surfaced ahead of the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections across five seats, with Eknath Shinde backing an independent against the BJP in Pune.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Maharashtra · **Published:** 2026-10-16 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/maharashtra/maharashtra-vidhana-parishada-chunava-pune-shikshaka-sita-para-shiv-sena-ka-nirdaliya-ko-khula-samarthana-mahayuti-men-khinchatana-48098 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Maharashtra MLC Election, Eknath Shinde, Mahayuti, Pune Teachers Constituency, Sachin Sanap, Kaustubh Gawade, Amravati Election

Internal differences within the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra have spilled into the open ahead of the crucial elections for five Legislative Council seats. Clashes over ticket distribution and local constituency claims have strained coordination among the alliance partners, leading to direct confrontations and rebel challenges across key regions including Pune and Amravati.

## Shiv Sena Backs Independent Against BJP in Pune Teachers Seat
The electoral contest in the Pune Teachers constituency has taken an unexpected turn. While the Bharatiya Janata Party fielded Kaustubh Gawade as its official candidate, Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde formally declared unconditional, hundred percent support for independent nominee Sachin Sanap. Sachin Sanap is a former Officer on Special Duty to Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde confirmed on Thursday night that Shiv Sena will back Sachin Sanap completely. Shiv Sena leaders and ground cadres are scheduled to join his campaign trail directly. The open decision of an alliance partner to sponsor and campaign for an independent contender against a coalition ally's official candidate has brought internal tensions within the Mahayuti alliance to the forefront.

## The Contest for the Pune Seat and Nomination Withdrawals
The discord over the Pune Teachers constituency had been brewing for several days. Shiv Sena had originally sought to contest the seat under its own banner, but the BJP retained the constituency and handed the nomination to Kaustubh Gawade. In response, Eknath Shinde attempted to field his close associate Mangesh Chivate by handing him an AB form. However, Mangesh Chivate subsequently had to withdraw his nomination papers from the race.

Following Mangesh Chivate's withdrawal, Sachin Sanap entered the fray as an independent candidate. With Eknath Shinde's full endorsement, Sachin Sanap now poses a direct challenge to the BJP's Kaustubh Gawade. The move has turned the Pune election into a high-stakes local battle between allies who govern the state together.

## Rebel Trouble and Multilateral Contest in Amravati
The coalition discord is not confined to Pune alone. In the Amravati constituency, seat-sharing discussions allocated the seat to Shiv Sena. However, the official Shiv Sena nominee faces a serious challenge from a BJP rebel candidate who refused to stand down and remains firmly in the race.

The Amravati contest has become heavily crowded with multiple contenders and dissenters emerging from both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. On the opposition side, the Congress party has nominated Aditi Pohare. The presence of rebel figures from both major camps has severely complicated vote calculations across the constituency.

## Eknath Shinde Projects Confidence Across All Five Seats
Breaking days of speculation surrounding the party's stance in Pune, Eknath Shinde made his position unambiguous during his visit to the city. He reiterated that Sachin Sanap enjoys the full backing of Shiv Sena. Responding to queries regarding whether the coalition partners are fighting unitedly, Eknath Shinde stated that the Legislative Council elections are being contested under the Mahayuti umbrella, while acknowledging that certain seats have emerged as exceptions.

Expressing confidence, Eknath Shinde maintained that the Mahayuti alliance would emerge victorious across all five contested Legislative Council seats. Nevertheless, the open confrontation between BJP candidate Kaustubh Gawade and Shiv Sena-backed Sachin Sanap in Pune, coupled with rebel defiance in Amravati, highlights deep organizational friction within the ruling coalition.

## What this means for you
The public standoff between governing alliance partners in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections creates political uncertainty that directly affects the representation of teachers and regional constituencies.

- **Across Maharashtra:** Voters in teacher constituencies face divided loyalties as ruling alliance partners campaign against each other. The presence of independent and rebel contenders complicates the electoral outcome across all five seats.
- **In Pune:** Teachers voting in Pune will witness parallel campaigns by the BJP and Shiv Sena machinery. Educators will need to navigate competing promises from coalition partners rather than a unified policy agenda.
- **In Amravati:** The contest between an official Shiv Sena candidate and a BJP rebel directly splits traditional coalition vote banks. Local voters and regional groups face fragmented campaign messaging.
- **On Governance Coordination:** The open friction between coalition partners could slow joint administrative initiatives in the state secretariat. Coalition leaders will need to spend political capital managing internal friction rather than smooth governance.

## Why this happened
The confrontation within the Mahayuti alliance stems from unresolved disagreements over seat allocation and each party's desire to safeguard its regional base.

- **Dispute Over Seat Claims:** Shiv Sena wanted to contest the Pune Teachers constituency, but the BJP insisted on retaining the seat for its own candidate Kaustubh Gawade. This decision created resentment within the local Sena cadre.
- **Nomination Withdrawal Fallback:** After Eknath Shinde's aide Mangesh Chivate was compelled to withdraw his nomination, Shiv Sena chose to back independent candidate Sachin Sanap to retain leverage.
- **Breakdown of Discipline in Amravati:** Despite Amravati being assigned to Shiv Sena under the seat-sharing formula, a local BJP leader rebelled, demonstrating weak enforcement of coalition agreements.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. How many seats are being contested in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections?
Elections are being held across five seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

### 2. Who is the BJP candidate from the Pune Teachers constituency?
Kaustubh Gawade is the official BJP candidate from the Pune Teachers constituency.

### 3. Whom did Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena support in the Pune Teachers election?
Eknath Shinde announced one hundred percent support for independent candidate Sachin Sanap in Pune.

### 4. What past post did Sachin Sanap hold?
Sachin Sanap formerly served as an Officer on Special Duty to Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant.

### 5. Who is the Congress nominee for the Amravati seat?
Aditi Pohare is the candidate fielded by the Congress party in Amravati.

### 6. Which Shiv Sena figure previously withdrew his nomination for the Pune seat?
Eknath Shinde's aide Mangesh Chivate had initially filed nomination with an AB form before withdrawing.

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