All the three sitting MLAs in Pimpri-Chinchwad, , Vilas Lande and Anna Bansode, known for their close relations with each other, are back in the election fray. While the NCP has once again nominated Bansode from the Pimpri reserved seat and given a ticket to the independent MLA, Lande, from Bhosari, Jagtap, in a surprise move, has walked into the BJP fold and has filed his nomination from the Chinchwad seat. In all three constituencies, the Congress has fielded ‘lightweight’ candidates.
All the three MLAs have filed their nomination papers. The apparent unease of Jagtap and Lande, who were confused about which party to join, disappeared as the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance fell apart. Both of them had apparently approached the Shiv Sena and were waiting for final confirmation when the alliance fell apart. Jagtap was in turn also in touch with the BJP, with its top leaders having approached him earlier this month.
The Jagtap camp said he joined the BJP because he wants to take up the issue of legalising the illegal constructions in Pimpri-Chinchwad with the Central government. “The BJP is likely to come to power. Even if it does not, Jagtap will work with top BJP leaders and take up the issue with the Union government,” said a close aide. Jagtap apparently joined the BJP after trying for the Shiv Sena as Shrirang Barne, his arch rival, is already in the Sena.
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In the Chinchwad Assembly seat, Jagtap, who had won in 2009 after a closely-fought battle against Shrirang Barne of the Shiv Sena, looks like the only known face across the constituency.
Jagtap’s strongholds are Sangvi, Pimple Gurav, Pimple Saudagar and Rahatni. The Sena has fielded Rahul Kalate, who is popular in Wakad and Thergaon.
The Congress has stunned its supporters by fielding Kailas Kadam who stays in Kharalwadi and is not very popular in Chinchwad. It denied a ticket to Bhausaheb Bhoir who was until recently its Pimpri-Chinchwad unit president. Bhoir was asked to contest at the last moment in the 2009 polls. He secured 25,000 votes and finished third.
“I am not withdrawing from the race. I have already started the campaigning several days before the polls were announced. I am hopeful of doing better than the last elections,” said Bhoir, vowing to cause an upheaval in the constituency.
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The NCP too apparently did not find a strong leader in Chinchwad constituency as it has fielded Nana Kate, who has some hold in Rahatni and Pimple Saudagar. The MNS has fielded Anant Korhale, making it a five-cornered contest in Chinchwad.
In Pimpri reserved constituency, the NCP’s sitting MLA Anna Bansode has three challengers in Gautam Chabuskwar of the Shiv Sena, Chandrakanta of the RPI and advocate Sushil Mancharkar, an independent.
Mancharkar, who is in the legal field and has a support base across the constituency, was not considered by the Congress despite the fact that he was trying to get a ticket with the help of Azam Pansare, a top Congress leader in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
The Congress sprang a surprise by fielding Manoj Kamble, who is relatively unknown in the constituency. “I never thought the party will not consider my credentials and my popularity. But I am not giving up. I will fight as an independent,” said Mancharkar, who is the legal cell president of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Congress.
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The Sena denied a ticket to corporator Seema Savle, who had already launched her campaign. Savle had already covered a major part of the constituency, with her banners and posters dotting the length and breadth of the constituency.
“We have been in the poll ring much before others could start their campaign. It is a big disappointment for us and we just could not believe that we are out of the race before it has begun,” said Savle who has decided to opt out of the race. The Savle camp says a top political leader is behind the move.
In all three constituencies — Pimpri, Chinchwad and Bhosari — the Congress has fielded lightweight candidates. While Kailash Kadam and Manoj Kamble are from Chinchwad and Pimpri consitutuencies, Hanumant Bhosale, who has nothing to do with Bhosari, as all his life he had been a Nehrunagar corporator, has been fielded from the Bhosari constituency.
The Sena has fielded Sulbha Uable from the Bhosari constituency. She had lost to Vilas Lande in 2009, and this time, the battle will be replayed.
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Political observers said that in Chinchwad, it looks like it will be a one-sided fight, as except for one candidate, all other candidates have a hold in only one or two suburbs. “In both Pimpri and Chinchwad, the situation is similar. The sitting MLAs are known faces across the constituencies while others are not, which will be a big disadvantage for them in view of the fact that very little time is left for campaigning,” said Madhav Saharabuddhe, a political observer.
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