It8217;s Shendge vs Ghorpade again

SANGLI, Sept 3: Kavathe Mahankal is the only assembly constituency in Sangli district in which Nationalist Congress Party of Sharad Pawar...

SANGLI, Sept 3: Kavathe Mahankal is the only assembly constituency in Sangli district in which Nationalist Congress Party of Sharad Pawar is facing challenge from rebel candidate.

Ajit Ghorpade, who constested and defeated Shivajirao Shendge of the Congress, had joined the Nationalist Congress Party of Sharad Pawar, but when denied NCP nomination, he revolted against the party and now is again contesting as Independent candidate and has crossed swords with his traditional foe Shivajirao Shendge, who is an NCP candidate.

After split in the Congress when Pawar launched a new party, Shivajirao Shendge was among the first leaders to join NCP and was followed by group of four Independent MLAs including Ajit Ghorpade.

Now as they were in same party, Shendge and Ghorpade staked their claim on Kavathe Mahankal assembly seat. Shendge8217;s nephew even threatened that if Shivajirao was not nominated by NCP he himself will contest on the Congress ticket. Shendge8217;s position became more stronger when he was joined by Vijay Sagre, son of late Nanasaheb Sagre, and who is chairman of Mahakali Sugar mill. Even though Ghorpade, Shendge and Sagre were in one party they contested Mahakali Sugar polls against each other.

In these elections Sagre-Shendge combine defeated claim for NCP nomination. At last as it was expected in political circles Shivajirao Shendge was nominated as NCP candidate in Kavathe Mahankal assembly constituency, but Ghorpade who had started his campaign even before nomination was announced by NCP was angered by party8217;s decision and decided to revolt against NCP, and contest as an Independent Candidate. Sharad Pawar personally contested Ghorpade and asked to rethink over his stand.

Senior NCP leader Vishnuanna asked Ghorpade to revoke his decision and support Shandge. But Ghorpade remained firm on his decision, and NCP leaders announced that Ghorpade will have to suffer his mistake. Now when all NCP leaders stand unitedly with Shandge, Ghorpade is totally isolated in this constituency. Though Ramdas Patil of the Congress has no influential image as his father, he is involved in building Congress with Shivajirao Shendge in this constituency. Traditional vote bank of Congress may stand behind Patil.