Pune: Following the Lok Sabha elections, Maharashtra is now gearing up for the Assembly elections. Both the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Mahayuti (Grand Alliance) have started intense preparations in Pune's eight Assembly constituencies. Among these, the Parvati Assembly constituency is emerging as a significant headache for both alliances.
In the Mahayuti, BJP's three-term MLA Madhuri Misal holds the traditional stronghold of Parvati. Despite this, she is facing a challenge from within her own party.
Senior BJP leader from Pune, Shrinath Bhimale, has launched a vigorous campaign in the Parvati constituency. His banners are seen across the city, and he has started voter registration drives.
Bhimale expressed his confidence stating that if given the chance, he would contest and win the election from Parvati. This intra-party rivalry has intensified BJP's dilemma over its candidate selection for Parvati.
Bhimale had shown interest in contesting from Parvati in the 2009, 2014, and 2019 elections but withdrew each time following party orders. After waiting for fifteen years, he now believes the party will consider his candidacy.
Meanwhile, the BJP's reduced vote margin in Parvati in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections compared to 2019 is seen as a warning sign for Madhuri Misal. Nonetheless, Bhimale’s stronghold in Ward 28, Salisbury Park, where Murlidhar Mohol received over 8,500 votes, strengthens his claim.
The situation is no different within the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Disputes have arisen over seat allocation between the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar, with both parties staking a claim on Parvati.
In 2019, Ashwini Kadam of the NCP contested from Parvati and has begun her preparations for another run. Conversely, Aaba Bagul of the Congress, who was discontented during the Lok Sabha elections, is pushing for the Congress to contest from Parvati and has also started his campaign efforts.
This infighting and rivalry in both alliances are making the Parvati Assembly constituency a challenging battleground for the upcoming elections.