Pune: In Pimpri-Chinchwad, a political standoff has emerged within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over seat-sharing for the upcoming assembly elections.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar and the Congress party are both vying for the Pimpri, Chinchwad, and Bhosari constituencies. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has also laid claim to the Pimpri and Bhosari seats, creating a complex scenario for the alliance.
As election preparations intensify, the issue of candidate selection has become a flashpoint. NCP leaders Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar have held rallies in the area, signaling the party's strong interest in these constituencies.
However, internal dynamics have shifted, particularly in Bhosari, where Ajit Gawhane, the NCP's city president for the Ajit Pawar faction, defected to the Sharad Pawar group, raising the possibility of the Bhosari seat going to the latter.
This has caused unrest among Shiv Sena's Thackeray faction, with former BJP corporator Ravi Landge also meeting with MP Sanjay Raut to discuss the situation.
Sharad Pawar's NCP is determined to secure all three seats as part of its broader strategy to win 85 assembly seats statewide. However, the Congress, despite its limited presence in the city, has also claimed all three seats, complicating negotiations further.
The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, emphasizing its traditional stronghold in Bhosari and previous success in Pimpri, insists on retaining both seats. This stance has led to signs of a growing rift within the MVA, with the possibility of a prolonged negotiation process.
Traditionally, the Congress-NCP alliance allocated Pimpri and Bhosari to the NCP and Chinchwad to the Congress. However, the current inclusion of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena in the alliance has added another layer of complexity, making seat-sharing negotiations more challenging.
