Amid tussle within Mahayuti, NCP vs NCP(SP) contest on cards for legislative council seat from Pune
The number of elected representatives of NCP (SP) in local body authorities in Pune are less but it hopes to gain from the division of votes of the Mahayuti alliance.
The NCP is led by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar (left) after the demise of her husband Ajit Pawar while NCP (SP) is led by Sharad Pawar (right). (Express photo) As the NCP and BJP in the ruling Mahayuti alliance fight it out to stake claim to the seat to contest the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls from Pune local authority, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) has jumped into the contest to take on the ruling alliance, which could be the first state-level election between the NCP and NCP (SP) after the demise of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. The NCP is led by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar after the demise of her husband Ajit Pawar in a plane accident a few months ago.
On Friday, the opposition Maha VIkas Aghadi declared seats to be contested by the alliance partners with the NCP (SP) set to contest the Pune, Thane and Satara Legislative Council seats from respective local body authorities of the 17 seats for which elections are scheduled in June. “The Congress will be contesting eight seats while the Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest four seats while a decision on the remaining two seats is yet to be taken,” said state Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal.
In Pune, the elections for state Legislative Council seat from local body authorities is considered to be the first attempt by parties to take over the reins of politics in the district after the demise of Ajit Pawar, who had complete control over the district for a long time.
The main tussle is between the ruling alliance partners considering the alliance strength in the local body authorities of Pune district. The BJP is pushing hard to contest the seat banking on its increased strength and support of Independents in the local body authorities of Pune district. BJP leader Ganesh Bidkar has expressed confidence of winning the seat if contested by BJP saying there are many aspirants including him to contest the elections of Legislative Council.
On the other hand, the NCP wants to retain hold in Pune district. City NCP chief Sunil Tingre had rubbished the claims of alliance partner BJP of having more strength in the local body authorities. “The NCP has the maximum number of elected representatives in the local civic bodies of Pune and should contest the Legislative Council seat in seat sharing arrangement in the Mahayuti alliance,” he said, adding the party has many aspirants to contest the seat.
The number of elected representatives of NCP (SP) in local body authorities in Pune are less but it hopes to gain from the division of votes of the Mahayuti alliance.
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