Maharashtra Elections: NCP (Sharad Pawar) Announces Rahul Kalate for Chinchwad, Ajit Gavhane for Bhosari Amid Internal Disputes
Reported by Mubarak Ansari & Tikam Shekhawat
Pimpri Chinchwad, 27th October 2024: The internal conflicts within the Mahavikas Aghadi alliance in Pimpri, Chinchwad, and Bhosari constituencies have now been resolved, with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar securing all three seats. NCP state president Jayant Patil has announced the candidacies of Rahul Kalate for Chinchwad and Ajit Gavhane for Bhosari.
Former corporator Sulakshana Shilwant had already been nominated for the Pimpri seat earlier on Saturday.
With just two days left for filing nominations, the Mahavikas Aghadi alliance had been grappling with internal disputes over the Chinchwad and Bhosari seats, while the ruling Mahayuti alliance had declared its candidates eight days ago. The indecision had sparked concern among the hopefuls, leading to rounds of discussions in Mumbai and Pune.
Former Shiv Sena corporator Rahul Kalate, who had shown interest in contesting from Chinchwad under the NCP (Sharad Pawar) banner, received strong backing from Shirur MP Dr. Amol Kolhe. After much deliberation, Kalate’s candidature was officially confirmed. Attention now shifts to former corporator Moreshwar Bhondve, who recently switched from NCP (Ajit Pawar) to Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) and may also contest in Chinchwad.
In Bhosari, a tussle had emerged between the NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) over the seat. Both Ajit Gavhane, who moved from NCP (Ajit Pawar) to NCP (Sharad Pawar), and Ravi Landge, who joined Shiv Sena (Thackeray) from the BJP, were vying for the nomination. Despite ongoing negotiations, neither party was willing to relinquish the seat. Ajit Gavhane, backed by former MLA Vilas Lande, had already started his campaign and met with Jayant Patil and Sharad Pawar to secure his position. His candidacy has now been confirmed, leaving Landge’s next move in the spotlight.
As part of the compromise within the Mahavikas Aghadi, Shiv Sena (Thackeray) has been allocated the Khed-Alandi seat, adjacent to Bhosari, in this critical election season.
