In the first sign of discord within the leaders of the Mahayuti alliance, Sameer Bhujbal, a former NCP Lok Sabha MP from Nashik and nephew of senior NCP Minister Chaggan Bhujbal, has declared that he would run as an independent candidate in the upcoming Assembly elections from Nandgaon in Nashik district.

The announcement follows his resignation as NCP Mumbai president. Voicing concerns about the “atmosphere of fear” created by the sitting Shiv Sena MLA, Sameer underscored rising dissatisfaction within the coalition. The constituency is represented by Shiv Sena’s Suhas Kande, who has been renominated by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, further intensifying the alliance’s tensions.

In his resignation letter, Sameer stated that he felt compelled to contest as an independent due to the demands of Nandgaon residents.

“Over the past five years, the atmosphere in this constituency has become very toxic, and the citizens here are living in fear.

Nandgaon’s workers, office-bearers, and citizens have personally met me and expressed their concerns. Considering the growing demands of Nandgaon’s citizens and the atmosphere of fear, I have decided to contest the upcoming Assembly elections to bring about change,” he said.

Festive offer

Sameer’s candidacy highlights the ongoing feud between Suhas Kande and senior NCP leader Chaggan Bhujbal, a conflict that has persisted despite numerous attempts at mediation by Mahayuti leaders. For the Bhujbals, Kande is seen as an upstart who challenged their long-standing dominance in Nandgaon, a constituency previously represented by Bhujbal’s son, Pankaj, for two terms in 2009 and 2014. Kande, who lost to Pankaj in 2014, claimed victory in 2019 by over 14,000 votes.

Kande’s political journey has been marked by upheaval. Initially aligned with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), he was once considered close to the Bhujbals. However, his switch to the Shiv Sena led to escalating tensions, particularly after the formation of the MVA government and Bhujbal’s appointment as Nashik’s guardian minister.

Kande perceived Bhujbal as holding a grudge against him for defeating his son, leading to several public confrontations between them during government meetings.

Kande even approached the Bombay High Court in September 2021, seeking the removal of Chhagan Bhujbal as Nashik’s guardian minister.

He raised questions about why the Anti-Corruption Bureau had not contested the Bhujbals’ discharge in the Maharashtra Sadan scam case.

The split in the Shiv Sena and the emergence of the Eknath Shinde-led government placed Kande and Bhujbal in opposing political camps, although the inclusion of Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP in the state government brought them back onto the same political spectrum. Despite this, their rivalry remains unyielding. During the Lok Sabha elections, Kande accused Bhujbal of undermining the BJP candidate.

Sameer’s decision to contest is perceived as a strategic move by the Bhujbal family to politically undermine Kande. While Chaggan Bhujbal, who has been nominated by the NCP from the neighboring Yevla constituency, has refrained from commenting on Sameer’s decision, insiders suggest it has his tacit approval.

These developments reflect the Mahayuti leaders’ struggle to address the discontent brewing within a coalition of leaders from diverse political backgrounds. Kande, undeterred, expressed his readiness to contest against any member of the Bhujbal family.

“In my view, both Sameer and Pankaj are politically inexperienced. I am prepared to face Chaggan Bhujbal as well, and I will emerge victorious,” Kande asserted.