Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha Showdown: Narayan Rane vs. Vinayak Raut in a Symbolic Battle of Prominence"



The Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency is gearing up for a showdown between Union Minister and BJP candidate Narayan Rane and the incumbent MP Vinayak Raut from Shiv Sena UBT. Raut emerged victorious in the 2019 elections during Shiv Sena's alliance with BJP, which later dissolved post the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Narayan Rane, the BJP's nominee, is being likened to three feudal lords, signifying his prominence. The formal announcement of candidates from the grand alliance signals the commencement of new developments in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The political landscape in the state witnessed a shift following the split between Shiv Sena and NCP, leading to factions aligning themselves differently. Notably, a faction of Shiv Sena has aligned with BJP, while another has allied with Congress.

Symbolically, NCP's Sharad Pawar group adopted the trumpet emblem, contrasting with Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray group, which opted for the torch symbol. This decision resulted in Uddhav Thackeray adopting the torch as a new symbol, marking a significant change. On the other hand, Sharad Pawar, the NCP founder, entered the electoral fray with the trumpet symbol.

The announcement of Narayan Rane's candidacy by BJP has sparked discussions about potential shifts in voting patterns. Traditionally, supporters of Shiv Sena in Tal Konkan region cast their votes using the bow symbol, but this year, they are anticipated to vote for the BJP's lotus symbol, deviating from the usual practice. Despite efforts by Eknath Shinde and Udaya Samant, the BJP secured the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat in the grand alliance, while the Raigad Lok Sabha seat was clinched by NCP.

The upcoming elections in Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg and Raigad constituencies mark a departure from the familiar bow and arrow symbols on the voting machines. These elections hold significant importance for Shiv Sena, Congress, and NCP, as the results are likely to influence the political landscape for the foreseeable future, impacting subsequent assembly elections.

Highlights 

In a historic electoral shift, the traditional bow and arrow symbol will not feature on the voting machine in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Raigad after two decades.

 The clock symbol of the Nationalist Congress Party has been ousted from Satara and Bhandara, Gondia constituencies for the first time since the party's inception. 

 Notably, the Thackeray family will cast their votes using a symbol other than Dhanushya Baan(bow and arrow)

  Additionally, Congress will be absent from Bhiwandi, while Shiv Sena will contest fewer than 20 seats for the first time.

   The iconic Congress paw will no longer be seen in Wardha post-independence, and major parties like Congress and Sena will not field any candidates in Yavatmal and Vashi respectively. 

 After 35 years, the bow and arrow symbol will vanish from Parbhani, and Congress' symbol will be absent from South Mumbai, South Central Mumbai, and North West. 

 There is a noticeable absence of Muslim candidates from major parties across the state.

  Lastly, in a significant development, the Congress party in Amravati will see its paw symbol on the voting machine after a hiatus of twenty years.

Samuel Navkar

Freelance Journalist


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