Overview
- Independent Gokul Gite announced he would stop campaigning for the Nashik local-authorities Legislative Council seat after meetings with senior Mahayuti ministers Thursday.
- The decision effectively boosts Shiv Sena nominee Narendra Darade by removing active local opposition even though Gite’s name remains on the June 18 ballot.
- Gite did not clearly pledge to campaign for Darade and alliance leaders are worried that the lack of a formal party whip and his continued presence on the ballot could allow cross-voting or vote splitting.
- Officials held parallel talks in Jalgaon and rebel Shiv Sena candidate Reshma Kale subsequently withdrew and backed the Mahayuti candidate, further easing alliance tensions.
- A developing but unconfirmed claim links contemporaneous legal moves involving Gite’s brother to the negotiations; reporting notes the letter about the brother’s bail matter coincided with talks but offers no proof of coercion.