Maharashtra Assembly polls: Many imported candidates win

Mumbai: Imported candidates played a major role in the BJP’s victory in the state Assembly polls. Out of the 50 leaders who were imported from other parties, 22 won in their respective seats. In the Shiv Sena, 14 such candidates were victorious while another 14 came second in the seats they were contesting.

The BJP had welcomed leaders from other parties, including tainted ministers, just before the last day of filing nominations. The party had even imported leaders from the NCP at the time of Lok Sabha polls, but the number of such leaders rose drastically in the Assembly polls.

“After tremendous victory in Lok Sabha polls, many leaders from all parties were eager to join BJP,” said BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye.

“We took the final decision to welcome them to the party after the 15-year-old alliance with Shiv Sena broke,” Mr Upadhye added.

“If the leaders joined earlier, we could not accommodate them in constituencies which were with Shiv Sena and hence the decision to give them candidature was delayed,” he said.

Shiv Sena also welcomed leaders from other parties. The saffron party had offered candidature to 54 imported candidates, out of which 13 such candidates won the election. Vaibhav Naik (an ex-Congressman) from Kudal in Konkan region became a giant killer by defeating former chief minister and Congress heavyweight Narayan Rane.

Prakash Surve, originally an NCP man, later joined Shiv Sena, defeated heavyweight MNS outgoing legislator Praveen Darekar from Magathane constituency.

Also, BJP candidate Manda Mhatre defeated NCP leader Ganesh Naik from Belapur constituency. Mr Naik was a minister and emperor of the Navi Mumbai belt, while Ms Mhatre left NCP and joined BJP after differences arose with Mr Naik.