Facing BJP’s opposition, Shinde Sena replaces sitting MPs in Hingoli, Yavatmal

However, Patil’s wife Rajashri Patil has been fielded from Yavatmal-Washim, which is an adjoining seat to Hingoli, replacing sitting MP Bhawana Gawali.

This is not the first time Shinde Sena is replacing sitting MPs owing to the opposition from BJP leaders. Earlier, the party had replaced Ramtek MP Krupal Tumane with former Congress MLA Raju Parve, who recently joined the party.

In Hingoli, Shinde had on March 28 re-nominated Hemant Patil. However, the local BJP leadership of Hingoli opposed the nomination of Patil that forced Shinde withdraw his decision.

Expressing displeasure over the whole episode, Patil said, “The party should not have nominated me in the first place. It feels bad but as a party worker.”

However, he added, “I will work and extend my help in the election in Hingoli.”

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Patil had won Hingoli as a candidate of the undivided Shiv Sena, polling nearly 5.86 lakh votes.

In Yavatmal-Washim, according to a party functionary, there has been a strong opposition to five-term MP Bhavana Gawali, who had been winning the seat since 1999, citing a negative survey and anti-incumbency against her.

With Thursday being the last day of filing nominations for the second phase, Rajashri Patil and Kadam-Kohalkar filed their nominations.
Gawali, however, was not present when Rajashri Patil filed her nomination in the presence of CM.

Addressing a gathering after the nomination filing of two candidates, Shinde assured the leaders of his party that he would stand firmly behind the sitting MPs from both Yavatmal-Washim and Hingoli even if they have not been renominated.
The CM also praised Bhavana Gawli saying that the work done by her will help the party’s new candidate in Yavatmal-Washim.
“In politics, we have to take some decisions considering the equations. But while doing this, Eknath Shinde will not abandon anyone who has been left out (in ticket allocation) and will stand firmly with all of them…No one will be abandoned in Mahayuti,” he said.
While Patil said he met Kadam-Kohalikar and assured him of working for the victory of party’s candidate, Gawali was relatively upset over not being nominated by the party this time.

Kadam said Patil told him to start preparations for the Lok Sabha seat after he spoke to CM Shinde. “He will definitely support me, and we will campaign together in the constituency,” Kadam added.