In PCMC, BJP hopefuls rush to file nominations, show independent strength

After the Lok Sabha elections, the number of hopefuls increased in the BJP camp and there was a constant demand for more seats for the party in the area. BJP leaders from Bhosari were in particular vocal in their demand that the seat be given to them. Before the murder of BJP leader Ankush Landge in 2006, the party had a sizeable presence in the area with it winning large number of seats in the civic polls. The murder of Landge had turned out to be a watershed event for the party, which since then has been on a decline in the area.

Good performance in the Lok Sabha polls had once again bouyed the hope of the party in the area. Pawar, who had started his campaigning long before the break up of the alliance, said he would file his nomination on Friday. Asked about his chances in the area, Pawar said BJP had a good presence in the area and he was hopeful he would win. “The last civic polls saw some of our candidates loosing by just 50 votes. I am sure the workers of the area will campaign hard for me,” he said. Pawar will have to face the might of sitting MLA Vilas Lande, who is seeking re-election for the third time, standing committee chairman Mahesh Landge and the Shiv Sena’s candidate, which is yet to be announced. Last time, the Shiv Sena had lost the seat by just 1,000 votes.

The situation of the party in Chinchwad and Pimpri remains unclear with names of Amar Sable and Rajesh Pillay doing the rounds.  In 2009, Sable had lost out to Anna Bansode of the NCP. Rajesh Pillay, a strong NCP leader who had defected to the BJP prior to the polls, is also considered a hopeful. Party leaders said the list would be released late on Thursday night or early on Friday.

RPI’s stance remained unclear till late on Thursday night. The official BJP press release mentioned that the RPI would be going with them, but RPI leaders said Ramdas Athawale asked them to go ahead and file their nominations on party tickets.

Laxman Jagtap joins BJP
The suspense over the political future of Laxman Jagtap ended on Thursday evening when he joined the BJP. Jagtap was wooed by the NCP for a long time but he kept people hanging, refusing to reveal his cards. His followers had started a Facebook page asking for opinion on whether he should join the NCP or the BJP.