Pune: Veteran Congress leader and former Deputy Mayor of Pune, Aaba Bagul, has officially filed his nomination for the Parvati Assembly seat, setting the stage for what promises to be a closely contested race.

Bagul, currently serving as the Vice President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, has solidified his intent to contest the upcoming assembly elections from the Parvati constituency.

Bagul had been actively lobbying for the Parvati seat within the Maha Vikas Aghadi's seat-sharing arrangement, engaging with senior leaders from the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), including NCP (SP) Chief Sharad Pawar and Congress leaders Nana Patole and Balasaheb Thorat.

While the official seat-sharing agreement has yet to be finalized, Bagul moved forward by filing his nomination on Thursday (October 24), representing the Congress, Maha Vikas Aghadi, and, if necessary, as an independent candidate.

Expressing confidence that the seat will remain with the Congress, Bagul reaffirmed his commitment to contesting the election under any circumstances and promised to bring significant changes to the Parvati constituency.

Bagul's nomination introduces a competitive element to the Parvati race, with observers anticipating a hard-fought contest.

The former Deputy Mayor has built a long-standing reputation in Pune politics, with a political career spanning over 30 years. Having been elected six consecutive times as a corporator, he has played a significant role in city development through leadership positions such as Standing Committee Chairman and Opposition Leader.

Notably, Bagul introduced the 'Janata Darbar' (People's Court) during his tenure as Deputy Mayor, a platform designed to address citizens' grievances directly.

As the election approaches, the Parvati constituency is expected to see intense competition, with Bagul’s candidacy signaling potential changes in the political dynamics of the area.