In the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls, in accordance with the seat-sharing programme, the BJP was supposed to contest the Kankavli seat while Kudal and Sawantwadi belonged to Shiv Sena. However, an unexpected bombshell dropped. The BJP announced that Nitesh Rane, son of Thackerays' political bete noire Narayan Rane, will contest from Kankavli. While this was a largely distasteful prospect for many BJP leaders, it was especially unappealing for Sena. Ever since Nitesh's father Narayan Rane quit Sena in 2005, a feud had taken root.
THE WEEK's Mumbai Bureau Chief Dnyanesh Jathar gives us more insight into what the push and pull for power could mean for the upcoming polls in the state.
