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Journalism of Courage
While releasing the party’s first list of 38 candidates on Wednesday, which had the name of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister on top, the NCP denied that Ajit Pawar was fighting shy of contesting from the family pocketborough of Baramati, from where he has won seven consecutive times.
“No, Ajit Pawar is not someone who will hesitate to take up any challenge on the political turf. Whatever was hinted earlier was done purposely as part of political strategy,” NCP spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare told The Indian Express after the party released its first list, declaring that Ajit Pawar would contest from Baramati, ending speculations.
Before the list was released, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare too confirmed to this paper that Ajit Pawar will file his nomination from Baramati on Monday. Besides Ajit Pawar, the list includes names of top NCP leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal (Yeola), Dilip Walse-Patil (Ambegaon), Hasan Mushrif (Kagal), Dhananjay Munde (Parli) and Narhari Zirwal (Dindori).
32 sitting MLAs renominated
Other renominated MLAs include Aditi Tatkare from Shrivardhan seat, Sanjay Bansode from Udgir, Makrand Patil from Wai, Manikrao Kokate from Sinnar, Dharamrao Baba Atram from Ahire, Sangram Jagtap from Ahmednagar city, Anil Patil from Amalner and Ashutosh Kale from Kopargaon.
The party has also fielded sitting MLA Sulbha Khodke (Amravati) and Hiraman Khoskar (Igatpuri), who had quit the Congress and joined the NCP recently.
Among the 38 names announced by the NCP, there is only one name from Pune city, that is of Chetan Tupe from Hadapsar seat.
In the first list, the name of “controversial” MLA Sunil Tingre is missing. In 2019, he had won from Wadgaonsheri seat of Pune city. A few months back, Tingre was at the centre of a controversy after he faced allegations of rushing to the aid of the family whose son was involved in the Porche crash, which killed two youngsters. Similarly, the name of Nawab Malik is also missing.
The NCP is seeking green signal to the two names from Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah. “There are a few names which need approval of the BJP top brass,” the NCP spokesperson said.
The party has also renominated Pimpri MLA Anna Bansode, who was facing opposition from his own partymen and flak from voters for doing little development work in his constituency. However, NCP leaders said the loyalty factor weighed heavily in favour of Bansode, who stood rock-solid in support of Ajit Pawar when he staged the rebellion in 2019.
In the district, the party has renominated Dattatrya Bharne, who in all probability will be challenged by Harshvardhan Patil, who had defeated him from Indapur seat in the last two elections.
The NCP has also renominated Sunil Shelke from Maval. Shelke was facing opposition from the BJP. It has also renominated senior leader Dilip Walse-Patil, who has never lost an election from Ambegaon seat. The NCP has also nominated Atul Benke from Junnar seat, setting to rest speculations that he will jump to the Sharad Pawar-led party.
