Pune: Shiv Sena party is gearing up to assert its influence in the Hadapsar constituency, recognized for its strong voter base. As part of the Mahayuti alliance's seat-sharing arrangement, supporters of city president Nana Bhangire have approached Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at Varsha bungalow, advocating for the allocation of this constituency to the Shiv Sena.
The Shinde-Fadnavis-Pawar government has officially decided to contest the upcoming assembly elections under the Mahayuti banner, with discussions on seat distribution currently in progress.
Preliminary guidelines suggest that existing MLAs from participating parties will be granted the opportunity to contest from their respective constituencies. However, this stipulation raises concerns as it implies that the Shiv Sena party may not secure any seats within Pune city.
Given the considerable support for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Pune, party officials are pressing for the allocation of three out of eight seats to the Shiv Sena.
In a bid to secure a nomination for Nana Bhangire from Hadapsar, his supporters have directly engaged with Chief Minister Shinde. Local party officials and activists are keen for the Shiv Sena to reclaim the Hadapsar constituency.
Key figures attending the meeting with the Chief Minister included Deputy District Chief Amar Ghule, Coordinator Abhiman Bhangire, Pankaj Kordre, Deepak Kulal, and Sachin Tarwade.
Party spokesperson Abhijit Borate elaborated on their demand for the Hadapsar seat, emphasizing its significance for bolstering the party's organizational strength in Pune city and district.
Bhangire has previously been elected three times as a corporator from the Hadapsar constituency, and under the leadership of Chief Minister Shinde, he has secured over 300 crore rupees in development funding for the area in the last two years. This track record has fostered a belief among party officials that he deserves the nomination.
The Shiv Sena is also seeking seats in the Khedkawlasla and Wadgaon Sheri constituencies, with final decisions expected in the coming days. Currently, Chetan Tupe, the sitting MLA from the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), represents the Hadapsar constituency, and Nana Bhangire is actively increasing his outreach through various programs.