Pimpri: The much-discussed "Maval Pattern," introduced by dissenting members of the Mahayuti alliance, failed to gain traction as Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Sunil Shelke emerged victorious with a margin of over one lakh votes in the Maval assembly constituency.
At the time of publishing the news, according to the Election Commission of India website, Sunil Shelke had secured 186205 votes and was leading by a margin of 106159 votes at the end of 28th round out of total 29 rounds.
The election witnessed a high-stakes battle between the NCP candidate and an independent contender supported by Mahayuti rebels, drawing attention across Maharashtra.
A notable 1.43% increase in voter turnout, with 32,358 additional votes, was recorded compared to previous elections. Despite these changes, Shelke maintained his dominance, securing a second consecutive term with a decisive mandate.
Shelke’s political journey has been marked by significant shifts. A former BJP member, he joined the NCP in 2019 following a rebellion over being denied a BJP ticket.
In the same year, he defeated BJP’s Bala Bhegade, sparking a prolonged political rivalry. This year, the Maval seat was allocated to Ajit Pawar’s NCP, causing further discord within the Mahayuti alliance. Pawar's decision to back Shelke led to divisions, with Bala Bhegade devising the "Maval Pattern" strategy to challenge Shelke.
Bapu Bhegade, an NCP leader from the Ajit Pawar faction, rebelled and contested as an independent candidate. The BJP’s Bala Bhegade and Ganesh Bhegade openly supported him, resigning from their party positions.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) also endorsed Bapu Bhegade’s candidacy, amplifying the challenge to Shelke.
Despite significant support from key leaders, Bapu Bhegade’s campaign could not sway the electorate.
Most BJP leaders and factions of the NCP worked for the independent candidate, but Shelke managed to retain public support, resulting in a one-sided victory. This marks Shelke’s second straight victory after defeating Bala Bhegade by 94,000 votes in 2019.
The constituency, which has 3,86,172 registered voters, witnessed a turnout of 72.59%, with 2,80,319 voters casting their ballots. This included 1,44,214 men, 1,36,102 women, and three others.
