Pune: A fierce competition is brewing within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over the Khadakwasla Assembly constituency, with both the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) vying for control of the seat.
Despite the current indications that the NCP (SP) faction may retain the seat, internal conflicts have arisen due to multiple contenders seeking the party’s ticket.
Reports suggest that nine candidates from the NCP (SP) are keen to contest from Khadakwasla constituency, and the area is already seeing an aggressive poster campaign by hopefuls.
Among the leading contenders is Khadakwasla Assembly President Kaka Chavan, who has warned that he may reconsider his association with the party if he is denied a ticket for the upcoming election. This has fueled speculation about potential unrest within the party as the candidacy decision looms.
For years, Khadakwasla has been a stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with Bhimrao Tapkir securing three consecutive victories from the constituency.
However, in the previous assembly election, Tapkir’s victory was by a narrow margin, with the NCP candidate losing by just a few thousand votes. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the NCP (SP) managed to significantly cut down the BJP’s lead in the area, leading to heightened expectations of a win for the Sharad Pawar-led NCP in the upcoming polls.
Among the NCP’s contenders, Sachin Dodke, who lost in the last assembly election, has expressed his intention to run again. Meanwhile, Kaka Chavan has begun his campaign with vigor, emphasizing his long-standing role within the constituency.
Speaking to the media, Chavan said, "I have served as the President of the Khadakwasla Assembly constituency for several years. I have been a candidate for elections in 2009, 2011, 2014, and 2019, but have never been given a ticket. Despite this, I have worked hard for the party and its candidates.
However, after four unsuccessful elections, I have requested the party leadership to consider me for the ticket this time. If they don’t, I will be forced to make an alternative decision after the elections. But I am confident that the party leadership will take the right call."
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena’s Thackeray faction is also pressing for the Khadakwasla seat. Vasant More, a recent addition to the Thackeray group, has launched an active campaign in the constituency and is pushing for his nomination. Posters supporting More have appeared throughout the area as his outreach efforts intensify.
