Pune: While the Mahayuti has finalized its candidates for the Pimpri, Chinchwad, and Bhosari assembly constituencies, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) remains at an impasse, yet to determine the final distribution of these key seats among its constituent parties.
Intense discussions are ongoing within the MVA, with a tug-of-war between the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) over fielding candidates in the Chinchwad and Bhosari constituencies.
Sources suggest that a “friendly” contest in at least one of these constituencies may ultimately be the outcome if a consensus isn’t reached.
With five days into the nomination process, the MVA still has not finalized its candidates for these critical seats. In contrast, Mahayuti announced its candidates earlier, with campaigns well underway.
NCP has nominated incumbent MLA Anna Bansode for Pimpri, BJP has put forth Shankar Jagtap in Chinchwad, and Mahesh Landge in Bhosari.
Meanwhile, in Pimpri, the NCP (SP) is backing former corporator Sulakshana Shilwant as a strong candidate to challenge Bansode, while Seema Sawale, former BJP corporator and ex-standing committee chairperson, has also been proposed.
In Chinchwad, ex-corporator Rahul Kalate has expressed his support for any candidate chosen by Sharad Pawar.
Bhosari has seen even more contention, with both the NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) unwilling to relinquish the seat. Former BJP member and current Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Ravi Landge and Ajit Gawhane, who recently aligned with NCP (SP), have both staked claims for this seat.
Efforts are reportedly underway to resolve the division by allowing Pimpri and Bhosari to go to the NCP (SP), with Chinchwad going to Shiv Sena (UBT). However, with no agreement yet, the possibility of a “friendly” contest remains.
