In a force multiplier for the depleted ranks of the opposition parties, the Left Democratic Front (LDF), comprising of the Left, socialist parties and farmer groups, said it was willing to ally with the Congress and NCP to prevent a "division of secular votes." The front, including Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPI-M), CPI, Janata Dal (Secular), Palghar strongman Hitendra Thakur's Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA), farmer leader and former MP Raju Shetti's Swatantra Bharat Paksha (SBP), MLC Kapil Patil's Lokbharati, and MLA Bacchu Kadu's Prahaar, are sub-regional forces with pockets of support across Maharashtra. For instance, while Shetti, a two-term Lok Sabha MP, has support in western Maharashtra and parts of Vidarbha, the BVA has three MLAs. The PWP is influential in Raigad and in Solapur's Sangola and has three MLAs and two MLCs. The LDF will discuss the alliance proposal on Thursday. "We will negotiate together with the Congress-NCP alliance instead of each party doing it at an individual level," said Ashok Dhawale, member, central committee, CPI-M. "We do not want a division in the secular vote," he explained, while adding they would also not ally with the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), which has been blamed by the opposition of playing the role of a "spoiler" in the Lok Sabha polls. Before the Lok Sabha polls, the CPI-M had offered to ally with the Congress-NCP, but sought the Dindori seat in Nashik district for its lone MLA in Maharashtra- Jiva Pandu Gavit, who represents Kalvan-Surgana in the assembly. However, the NCP fielded Shiv Sena defector Dhanraj Mahale, and the BJP's Dr Bharati Pawar won the seat in a triangular contest. "We are hoping that the Congress-NCP have learnt their lessons," said Dhawale, adding that the CPI-M was sure to contest on four seats, namely Kalwan-Surgana, Dahanu, Solapur Central and Nashik West. However, the Solapur Central seat is held by Praniti Shinde of the Congress, who has defeated the CPI-M state secretary and labour leader Narsayya Adam Master in two successive elections. Dhawale said even if they allied with the Congress, they would not give up their claim on the Solapur seat, which would witness a "friendly fight." Though the CPI-M's representation in the Maharashtra legislative assembly has dropped from three in 2004 to one each in 2009 and 2014, its retains its pockets of influence in areas like Dahanu, Solapur city and Kalwan in Nashik and a strong presence in the labour union sector. Maharashtra has not sent a CPI-M nominee to the Lok Sabha after Ramchandra Ghangare who defeated former union minister Vasant Sathe of the Congress from Wardha in 1991. However, while the CPI-M's state secretary Narsayya Adam Master, who has a base among the local bidi workers, is a former MLA from Solapur Central, the seat is represented by Praniti Shinde of the Congress. Praniti is the daughter of former chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde. The last Communist Party of India (CPI) MP from Maharashtra was Sudamkaka Deshmukh from Amravati in 1989. Madhavrao Gaikwad from Manmad and Namdeorao Kale from Wani were the last CPI nominees to be elected to the Assembly in 1995. Once a potent force in Maharashtra politics—the stalwarts of the Communist movement and the then undivided CPI like SA Dange, BT Ranadive, SS Mirajkar, Godavari and Shamrao Parulekar and Ahilyatai Rangnekar hailed from the state—the Parliamentary Left has seen a gradual decline in its electoral fortunes. This is a far cry from the days when leaders like Dange held sway over the textile labour belt in Mumbai.

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