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Last day of filing nominations: BJP scrambles to quell rebellion, dissent brews in Congress

BJP leader Jagdish Mulik returned from election office without filing his nomination after receiving a call from party leaders.

Maharashtra assembly elections, Maharashtra poll nominations, BJP, congress, Ashwini Shindem, NCP, Ulhas Bagul, Indian express news

In Kothrud, sitting BJP legislator Chadrakant Patil managed to get Amol Balwadkar not to contest the election by burying their differences.

On the last day of filing nominations for the Assembly elections, the BJP managed to tackle rebellion in the city but the Congress was gripped by dissent from party leaders opposing its and its alliance partners’ official candidates.

The BJP was worst affected due to unrest among party aspirants who failed to get party nominations. In Parvati seat, aspirant Shrinath Bhimale was upset after sitting legislator Madhuri Misal was preferred over him. “I have backed out from the fray after discussions with party leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Murlidhar Mohol. I will work for electing all six candidates of the party in the city,” he said. However, Congress leader Ulhas Bagul has filed his nomination as Independent while Ashwini Shinde of NCP (SP) is the official candidate of MVA.

The BJP fielded Hemant Rasane in Kasba Assembly seat, which has disappointed city BJP chief Dheeraj Ghate and Kunal Tilak, son of fomer legislator Mukta Tilak. Ghate stayed away from roadshow of party candidate during filing of nomination and expressed his disappoinment on social media but decided not to rebel. Congress fielded sitting legislator Ravindra Dhangekar but party leadet Kamal Vyavhare is contesting as an Independent. “I am a senior party leader and party should have given opportunity to me,” she said.

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Also Read | Deadline for nominations over: Mahayuti, MVA finalise seat talks among allies: BJP to contest from 152, Congress 102

In Kothrud, sitting BJP legislator Chadrakant Patil managed to get Amol Balwadkar not to contest the election by burying their differences. “I have decide to not contest the Assembly elections to avoid damage to the party,” said Balwadakar.

BJP leader Jagdish Mulik returned from election office without filing his nomination after receiving a call from party leaders. “I decided to cancel plan to contest election after being convinced by state BJP leaders,” he said.

Also Read | The unlikely hand steering Mahayuti as polls near: How Eknath Shinde has come into his own

The Congress fielded Datta Bahirat in Shivajinagar and party leader Manish Anand filed nomination as Independent. “I am fully prepared for Assembly elections and take on sitting BJP legislator Siddhartha Shirole,” he said.

Mahayuti alliance partner RPI (A) leader Siddharth Dhende resigned from party for being ignored for Pune Cantonment seat.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More

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