Image- Dr. Vishwajeet Kamdam/ X

The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) are at loggerheads in Congress. The BJP which has renominated its sitting MP Sanjaykaka Patil in Sangli is sitting pretty, campaigning hard.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi has not been able to start its campaign. This is because the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray announced its candidate without consulting the Congress. The Congress is insisting that the Sangli seat has been a traditional Congress bastion and it should contest the seat. 

The Shiv Sena on the other said they have given Kolhapur and Ramtek sit to the Congress and therefore as a replacement they are contesting the Sangli seat.

The Shiv Sena has announced the candidature of Chandrahar Patil, a famous wrestler from Sangli seat. On the other hand, the Congress is keen on fielding Vishal Patil, grandson of late Vasantdada Patil, former chief minister of Maharashtra.

On Friday, the Shiv Sena rushed its MP Sanjay Raut to Sangli to pacify the Congress and NCP leaders and workers. However, Sanjay Raut could not meet them.

Congress MLA Vishwajeet Kadam said if no early decision is taken, the Maha Vikas Aghadi will lose the Sangli seat. ''Both Congress and Sena should find a solution to Sangli seat controversy. Otherwise, we will lose a seat which we should have won,'' he said.

Mr Kadam on his part has gone flat out to secure the Sangli seat for the Congress. He is repeatedly making trips of Delhi to convince party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to convince Mr Uddhav Thackeray to part with the seat. '''I have respect for Mr Uddhav Thackeray and Mr Sanjay Raut...They should consider our position and part with Sangli seat. We are fully confident that MVA candidate will win the seat. The Sangli seat has over the years been the fortress of the Congress. Only in the last two elections, we have lost the seat. This time we have a chance of getting back the seat. We should all resolve the issue as early as possible,'' he said.