Fear of cross-voting in Nashik haunts Mahayuti despite edge; Shiv Sena shifts electors off-site

Nashik: A clear numerical advantage in the Nashik legislative council elections notwithstanding, Mahayuti partners are battling unease over possible cross-voting in the absence of a binding whip.

Shiv Sena has moved its electors to an undisclosed location in a bid to tighten ranks.While Shiv Sena has officially described the move as a training exercise for newly elected members, the timing highlights the fragility within the alliance as it seeks a clean sweep in a contest already tilted in its favour. Maha Vikas Aghadi has not put up a united front, and key contenders have stayed away, further smoothing the path for Mahayuti.Nashik collector Aayush Prasad said, “A whip is limited to voting within a House, but this election is a secret ballot poll held across various centres. Here, a formal whip is not appointed.”The lack of enforceable discipline has forced Mahayuti into damage-control mode. In a show of caution, three senior ministers — Girish Mahajan, Uday Samant and Dada Bhuse — camped in Nashik for nearly a week to persuade independent candidate Gokul Gite to withdraw, reflecting the alliance’s anxiety over even minor disruptions.

A senior BJP functionary, requesting anonymity, admitted the uncertainty within. “Though Gite has stopped campaigning for himself, his name remains on the ballot paper. There are some members of the alliance who are unhappy with the official candidate’s way of functioning. Politics is always uncertain, and in the absence of a whip, protective steps have to be taken,” he said.That unease is not entirely unfounded. NCP MLA Hiraman Khoskar openly acknowledged dissatisfaction while pledging to toe the alliance line.

“The MLC during his past tenure had never worked for the people, even those who voted for him. However, as I am part of Mahayuti, I will have to vote for him. I hope in the next tenure he will work for the people,” Khoskar said, hinting at underlying resentment that could spill over in a secret ballot.However, Shiv Sena brass has dismissed speculation of internal dissent triggering cross-voting, insisting the relocation of electors is purely administrative.

Former deputy mayor Vilas Shinde said, “We are taking our electors to an undisclosed location to hold seminars and training programmes for them. Many of these electors are newly elected, and these training sessions will help them understand the complex system of preferential voting.

The sessions will also guide them in ensuring the development of their respective local bodies.”Reinforcing the confidence line, Sena deputy leader Ajay Boraste said victory was a foregone conclusion. “There is no doubt as to who will win the elections; we are going to win by a huge margin. These sessions will simply provide them an opportunity to interact with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde,” he said.