Pune: Datta Bharne, the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party candidate from the Mahayuti alliance, achieved a hat-trick of victories in the Indapur Assembly constituency by defeating Harshvardhan Patil of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) for the third consecutive time.

The political rivalry between Bharne and Patil has spanned 15 years, with this election drawing significant attention across the state.

Harshvardhan Patil, a former Cooperative Minister and once seen as a contender for the Chief Ministerial post, had contested the 2019 Assembly elections as a BJP candidate.

Following his defeat, the BJP had rehabilitated him by appointing him as Chairman of the National Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation. The BJP had also facilitated financial aid through the NCDC to rescue two cooperative sugar factories under Patil’s management.

Ahead of the 2024 elections, Patil switched allegiances to join NCP (SP). Senior leader Sharad Pawar himself campaigned for Patil, addressing two rallies in the constituency. Despite this, voters placed their trust in Bharne's developmental work, resulting in his decisive victory.

Bharne’s performance as an MLA over the past five years was a key factor in his win. He successfully secured ₹6,263 crores in development funds for the Indapur constituency—a figure that dwarfs the allocations received by 32 Vidarbha constituencies combined.

This impressive feat bolstered voter confidence in Bharne, allowing him to claim a third term.

Adding to Patil's challenges was the rebellion by Praveen Mane, an NCP (SP) dissident who contested independently after being denied a ticket.

Mane's independent bid garnered over 38,000 votes, splitting the electorate and easing Bharne's path to victory.

Patil’s defeat also reignited discussions about his controversial statements regarding "invisible hand" support for Supriya Sule during the Lok Sabha elections. Analysts speculate that these remarks may have alienated certain sections of voters, further weakening his campaign.