It’s now official: Chandrahar Patil, a wrestler affiliated with Shiv Sena (UBT), is set to contest the Sangli Lok Sabha seat as a candidate of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance. His opponent will be the incumbent MP Sanjaykaka Patil of the BJP, who has been nominated again by the party.

In a strategic move, the Congress has relinquished the Bhiwandi seat, which will now be contested by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under the leadership of Sharad Pawar. The MVA alliance has agreed upon a 21-17-10 formula, allocating 21 seats to Shiv Sena (UBT), 17 seats to Congress, and 10 seats to NCP (S-P).

Following a contentious exchange between Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress, Chandrahar Patil’s candidacy received the endorsement of Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders at a joint press conference held in Mumbai.

Tensions arose between the Congress and Sena when Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray announced Chandrahar Patil’s candidacy in Sangli. The Congress objected, asserting Sangli’s historical allegiance to the party, boasting two MLAs in the constituency compared to Sena’s none. In response, the Congress nominated Vishal Patil, the grandson of former chief minister Vasantdada Patil.

The Sena argued that it had relinquished the Kolhapur and Ramtek Lok Sabha seats and, therefore, sought to secure the Sangli seat in return. Despite efforts by Congress leaders, including Sangli MLA Vishwajeet Kadam, to negotiate with the Sena leadership, the party remained steadfast. As a conciliatory gesture, the Sena proposed sending Vishal Patil to the Rajya Sabha. Additionally, the Sena cautioned that any obstruction in the Sangli seat arrangement would have repercussions across Maharashtra.