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NCP woman candidate files papers amidst heavy police security in Solapur

Patil said the Chief Minister must have been hugely embarrassed after learning about the behaviour of his party leader. "We are hoping the CM will take some action in this regard," he added.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Nov 17, 2025 08:58 PM IST

The District Collector confirmed police protection was provided after Thite complained about threats from rivals. (Source: File/ Representational)

Ujwala Thite, a farmer and a candidate from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, on Monday filed her nomination papers after a BJP leader and his associates allegedly prevented her from going to the election office. Thite filed her nominations amidst heavy police security provided by Solapur police, in what is being said to be the first such incident in the history of the district.

Thite reached the election office in Angar village at 5.30 in the morning. She then phoned the police and sought their protection after complaining about the threat to her life. A huge contingent of armed police personnel, including those of SRPF, soon descended at the election office and ensured necessary security to the woman farmer.

“I finally filed my nomination papers for presidency of the Angar Nagar Panchayat,” Thite told The Indian Express soon after filing her nomination papers. “After they provided the security, I filed my papers after 10 am,” she said. Thite was accompanied by her son to the election office.

In last eight days, Thite alleged that she was prevented by her rivals — primarily a BJP leader who had recently joined the party — from filing her papers thrice. “They had stationed goons on the road to block my way. They blocked my way with tractors and other vehicles.

They chased me with sharp weapons, threatened and abused me,” she told the media in Solapur. She also released a video alleging threat from a BJP leader and former minister to her life.

When told about the plight of the woman candidate, Solapur District Collector Kumar Ashirwad said, “The woman has filed her nominations successfully… We gave her police protection since she had complained about a threat.”

Kumar added that she has been told she will be given police security when she must approach the polling office for the scrutiny of her nomination papers. Thite said she has not been allowed to enter her village for days. “I don’t know how I will campaign. I will have to do online campaigning,” she said.

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NCP Solapur district president Umesh Patil alleged that a BJP leader was behind the attempts to prevent the woman candidate from filing the nomination papers. “The BJP leader wants to ensure that the election to the Angar Nagar Panchayat is held unopposed. Before the Angar Nagar Panchayat became a Nagar Panchayat, it was a gram panchayat. For more than 60 years, the election to this panchayat was held unopposed. The truth is now out. This is how they got the elections unopposed, by threatening the candidates with dire consequences. In this case, sadly, a woman farmer who has little family support was being threatened openly and brazenly.”

Patil said, “The woman is an official candidate of NCP. The entire BJP is not against her. It is just one particular leader who wants to gets his family member elected unopposed as president of the Nagar Panchayat who resorted to do this dirty trick.”

Patil said the Chief Minister must have been hugely embarrassed after learning about the behaviour of his party leader. “We are hoping the CM will take some action in this regard,” he added.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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