Pune: In a recent development in Maval, Congress senior leader Mauli Dabhade has been suspended from the party for six years after attending the nomination filing of Sunil Shelke, a candidate of the Nationalist Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar.

This action follows the Congress party's decision to enforce discipline amidst the closely watched assembly elections in the region.

The Taluka President, Yashwant Mohol, confirmed the suspension, stating that Dabhade’s participation at Shelke’s nomination filing constituted a breach of party discipline.

Dabhade, a former NCP member who contested the 2014 assembly elections from Maval under the NCP banner, is now with Congress and holds the position of Director at the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank.

Notably, Maha Vikas Aghadi, the coalition that includes Congress, has not yet announced an official candidate for Maval or indicated clear support for independent candidate Bapu Bhegde.

Despite this, Dabhade’s appearance at Shelke's nomination event raised concerns within Congress leadership, prompting the directive from state president Nana Patole and district president, MLA Sanjay Jagtap, for Dabhade's suspension for six years.

The Maval assembly constituency has also seen internal dissent within the Mahayuti (grand alliance), with BJP declaring opposition to the Ajit Pawar-led NCP candidate Sunil Shelke and endorsing Bapu Bhegde, who rebelled from the same faction.

The developments have turned Maval into a focal point of political tension and have captured the attention of political observers statewide.