• Source:JND
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NCP Ajit Pawar faction leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Saturday said there was a sympathy wave in favour of Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar across Maharashtra and Lok Sabha contest there wasn’t easy for the NDA alliance. Maharashtra Minister Bhujbal said the main reason for the people's inclination towards the two leaders was the way NCP and Shiv Sena split and the separated factions joined the NDA camp.

“I believe there is a sympathy wave…the way Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena split and a faction of the NCP switched sides. This is showing in their rallies,” Bhujbal said in an interview with NDTV.

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The senior Maharashtra leader, however, said people had faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and wanted to elect him for the third term.

Eknath Shinde Rebellion And Shiv Sena Split:

The political dynamics in Maharashtra took a sharp turn in 2022 when Eknath Shinde and a faction of MLAs rebelled, resulting in the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Subsequently, Shinde aligned with the BJP and assumed the role of chief minister, causing a split within the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. This reshuffling added layers of complexity to Maharashtra's already intricate political landscape.

NCP Split:

A year later, a parallel scenario unfolded within the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, as his nephew Ajit Pawar orchestrated a split within the party and allied with the BJP, subsequently assuming the role of deputy chief minister in Maharashtra. Consequently, the political terrain of Maharashtra now witnesses the presence of two factions each of Shiv Sena and NCP, which are engaged in direct competition.

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Lok Sabha Election:

Two of the seven phases of the high-stakes Lok Sabha polls have already concluded. People across 190 seats in the country have already voted to choose their representatives. The third phase voting is scheduled for May 7. As many as 1,351 candidates are in the fray for this phase.