Doke to shun Chinchwad,focus on Bhosari and Pimpri

Doke however said she has not violated any party norms. “I was in Pimple Gurav-Sangvi area when some party workers requested me to participate in the padyatra of Jagtap. Out of courtesy,I spent sometime walking with the party workers,” she said.

Refusing to specify whether she will campaign in Chinchwad assembly constitency for Congress candidate,Doke said one thing is sure. “I will campaign for NCP candidate Mangala Kadam in Bhosari assembly constituency where the fight has become more acrimonious due to the presence of NCP rebel Vilas Lande.” Doke said she will be helping Kadam in planning party’s strategy. “In Pimpri also the NCP candidate is locked in a multi-cornered contest. I will have to put in my best efforts there too,” she said.

Despite persistent questioning,the mayor refused to clarify as to whether she will campaign for Congress candidate in Chinchwad. “Right now I can’t say anything. Let’s see if I get time from Pimpri and Bhosari.”

The mayor said the Congress was also at fault for whatever has happened. “The Congress had shown no courtesy to invite me for campaigning. Neither the Congress candidate nor his representative has contacted me or have explained me their campaigning strategy,” she said. The mayor denied that top NCP leaders had asked her to campaign for Jagtap who is known as the blue-eyed boy of Water Resources Minister Ajit Pawar. The Doke camp insisted that mayor will continue to pitch in her lot for Jagtap. “As it is the Congress has only three corporators in Chinchwad area. On top of this,the party is completely divided. First a strong Congress leader like Shrirang Barne walked out of the party. Then there was resentment in the Congress over who should be given the ticket. Significantly,the Congress itself was not sure whether it will get to contest the Chinchwad seat. Jagtap has been working in the area nearly for a year now,” a Doke supporter said.

When contacted,Jagtap said by campaigning for him if the mayor faces threat to her political career,he will stand by her. “But I would like to clarify that she did not campaign for me. She was just passing by when some women party workers requested her to participate in the padyatra and she obliged,” said Jagtap.

The Congress is furious at the mayor’s stance. “We are leaving it all to Ajit Pawar and Azam Pansare to make the mayor see reason. The mayor has broken the spirit of the alliance,” said Bhoir.

As for the mayor’s charge that she was not invited by the Congress,Bhoir said,”In fact,the mayor should have taken the initiative in leading the alliance’s campaign. As the first citizen of Pimpri-Chinchwad,it is the duty of the mayor to show the alliance the way.”