Eknath Shinde ties up with PRP leader Jogendra Kawade

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde (second from right) with PRP leader Jogendra Kawade (middle) announced their alliance

Amid talks between former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkar, the ruling Sena faction has announced alliance between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Peoples Republican Party (PRP) leader Jogendra Kawade. This assumes significance as Shinde has successfully tied up with the Scheduled Caste leader ahead of the upcoming elections in the city and state.

As per data, voters belonging to Scheduled Castes account for around 9 to 10 per cent of total population in Mumbai and around 12 per cent in the state.

A political leader on the condition of anonymity said, "Every republican leader has their stronghold area and district. But as a part of social engineering, every political party wishes to tie-up with a republican leader ahead of polls."

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"When all the four major factions of the republican party were with the Congress, the Congress was benefiting in the elections. Later, this faction [Kawade] began to distance themselves from the Congress," said Abhay Deshpande, political expert, adding, "Now that there is a discussion of Thackeray and Ambedkar coming together, Shinde tied up with Kawade as a counter."

He added, "While Union minister Ramdas Athawale and VBA leader Prakash Ambedkar have a presence in Mumbai, Kawade has a hold in Nagpur and surrounding areas. Shinde is probably hoping to clinch the SC-ST votes with the help of Kawade."

According to the data, Dharavi, Malad, Worli, Chembur, Govandi, and part of Ghatkopar have a huge population of SC and ST voters.