From Dapodi in Pune to Uran in Raigad,the newly carved-out Maval constituency stretches 200 km. Spread on sides of the Pune-Mumbai Highway and the Pune-Mumbai Expressway,it poses a logistical challenge to candidates. The contest,ideally,should have been straight between the NCPs Azam Pansare and the Shiv Senas Gajanan Babar. But Maruti Bhapkar of the Lok Rajniti Manch is snapping at the heels of both. Bhapkar has roped in Medha Patkar and Justice Rajendra Sacchar for his campaign. The contest in Maval is clearly a replay of what happened in Haveli in the 1999 Assembly elections. Then,too,it was Pansare against Babar,with the latter winning comfortably. If accessibility to voters was seen as the reason for Babars win,Pansares fate was sealed from the beginning because of his aloofness,it is said. This time,too,Pansare is already on the backfoot; not only was his candidature announced late by the NCP,but the different signals sent out by the party caused confusion among its rank and file. Pansares name was announced just on the eve of filing of nominations. NCP leader Ajit Pawar tried to make amends by saying Pansare was chosen on merit. Babars candidature was also uncertain as Congressman Shrirang Barne was tipped to be fielded by the Sena as a rebel candidate. However,vociferous protests from Sainiks ensured the ticket for Babar. With nearly 1.646 million voters separated by the popular Khandala ghat,Maval has six Assembly segments: Panvel,Karjat-Khalapur and Uran,housing around 6.5 lakh voters,in Raigad,and Pimpri,Chinchwad and Maval in Pune. The election issues are varied. Its the Reliance SEZ in Panvel and Uran,local issues like a bridge and a canal in Karjat,illegal constructions in Lonavala,a water shortage in Talegaon and Dehu Road,and the slowdown in Pimpri-Chinchwad. In other parts of Maval,the rehabilitation of those hit by the Pavana and Tata dams is the key issue. I have been protesting against the closed water pipeline scheme from the Pavana dam. Farmers have not received compensation, says Babar,claiming their support. On the other hand,Pansare is concentrating on development. We will develop rural areas, says NCP district coordinator Arun Borhade. Bhapkar says civic-conscious citizens and those evicted for the dams will back him. In Maval Assembly seat,the BJP has had an upper hand for years with four of its MLAs winning consecutive elections. The NCP has an MLA from Karjat-Khalapur while the Shiv Sena and the PWP are in alliance in Panvel,from where Vivek Patil had won comfortably in the 2004 Assembly polls. Of the 40 councillors in Panvel Municipal Council,16 belong to the Congress,six to the NCP and five to the Shiv Sena. We will spare no efforts for the NCP candidate, says Prashant Thakur,Congressman and council president. The Sena-BJP rules the Uran Municipal Council; the NCP rules in Karjat. The Sena says its consistent good work from Pimpri-Chinchwad will clinch the seat. Our entire machinery is in action for Maval and Shirur. I am sure of a huge victory in both seats, says Pawar. Key candidatesAzam Pansare (NCP)Gajanan Babar (Shiv Sena)Maruti Bhapkar (Lok Rajniti Manch) 1,646 million voters (846,000 men +800,000 women)
