There is growing unease within Sena because of discussions that indicate that the party may get fewer seats in the seat-sharing arrangement with BJP.“We worked shoulder-to-shoulder with BJP and put in equal effort at the grassroots level during the Lok Sabha elections. Resultantly, Sena should get as much opportunity in ticket distribution for the municipal elections,” Galande said.He described Wadgaon Sheri as a traditional Sena stronghold, noting that the party had consistently polled more votes than the BJP in the constituency over the years.Galande spoke about the party’s long-standing presence from gram panchayat bodies to the municipal corporation. “Sena had three corporators in Yerawada earlier and continues to have a strong base in Kharadi, Lohegaon and Wagholi. Given this strength, Sena candidates should be given seats in all six wards of the Wadgaon Sheri assembly constituency,” he added.Wadgaon Sheri assembly president Hemant Batte said Sena has connected with households across the constituency. Additionally, contesting the civic elections is crucial to protect the existence and morale of party workers, he added.Sena Pune city coordinator Shankar Sangam reiterated the demand and said a large number of loyal Shiv Sainiks are active in Wadgaon Sheri.Party leaders also referred to broader seat-sharing tensions in the city. Sena has reportedly demanded 35 seats in Pune, while the BJP is said to have agreed to only 15 — leading to dissatisfaction among party officebearers. Senior Sena leader Dr Neelam Gorhe has conveyed that the party expects between 25 and 30 seats in the city and discussions with BJP leaders are underway at present.Sena leaders said they are hopeful that a resolution will be reached soon, but stressed that ignoring the party’s demands in Wadgaon Sheri could weaken the alliance at the grassroots level.
