Maharashtra: Rebel MLA Geeta Jain extends support to BJP

Rebel MLA Geeta Jain who contested from Mira Bhayender Road met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday and extended her support to the Party. Geeta Jain contested as an independent candidate from the Mira Bhayander seat. She defeated the BJP's official nominee Narendra Mehta in the recently held October 21 elections. 

Rebel MLA extends support to BJP

Another independent MLA Rajendra Raut from Barshi constituency also met the Chief Minister and extended support to the Bhartiya Janata Party. Meanwhile, two other rebel MLA's have extended support to Shiv Sena, sources reveal. The support of the independent MLA's will have a huge impact on the bargaining power of both parties. 

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CM Fadnavis and Diwakar Raote to meet Governor

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena leader Diwakar Raote are scheduled to meet Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari separately on Monday. However, the Raj Bhavan said the visits are courtesy owing to the Diwali Festival. Sources also reveal that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray on October 30. This meeting is expected to have a huge impact. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had said that the BJP must remember the 50-50 seat-sharing formula that was agreed upon. 

"I want to remind the BJP the formula which was worked out in the presence of Amit Shah,” Thackeray had said. Earlier, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut also said that the 50-50 seat-sharing power will entail. "Numbers do go up and down," Raut said, adding, "I am going to meet Uddhav. Yes, we will definitely continue with the alliance. We have agreed upon a 50-50 formula." 

The BJP-Shiv Sena Alliance

In the 2019 Assembly Elections, the BJP contested on 150 seats and Shiv Sena fought on 124 seats in Maharashtra. Alliance partners of BJP fielded 14 candidates on the party's lotus symbol, the seat-sharing formula was shared in a press conference led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Udhav Thackeray. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the NDA had won 41 of 48 seats, demolishing the Congress-NCP alliance.

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