Pune: Maval MLA Sunil Shelke Struggles to Secure Nomination Amid Opposition from BJP and NCP
Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Maval, 16th October 2024: Just like the rest of Maharashtra, the Maval Constituency in Pune District is seeing many aspirants showing interest in contesting the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections. Due to this, the nomination of sitting MLA Sunil Shelke from Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is being challenged. Bapusaheb Bhegade from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has staked his claim for the Maval seat, threatening not to campaign for the NCP if he is not nominated, as both BJP and NCP are part of the Mahayuti alliance.
Additionally, Ravindra Bhegade and Bala Bhegade from Mahayuti are also interested in contesting, adding to the challenges for Sunil Shelke. This tug of war for candidacy is playing out in many constituencies across Maharashtra within the Mahayuti alliance.
Historically, Maval Constituency was a stronghold of the Indian National Congress from post-independence until the mid-1990s. After that, the BJP dominated the seat until 2019. However, NCP’s Sunil Shelke won the last election by rebelling against the BJP, having left the party after being denied a ticket. He defeated the then-sitting MLA Bala Bhegade by nearly 1 lakh votes.
Last year, when the NCP split and Ajit Pawar joined the Mahayuti government of the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena to become Deputy Chief Minister, Sunil Shelke also aligned with Ajit Pawar. According to Mahayuti’s policy, the party with the sitting MLA in a particular constituency is expected to get the ticket for the upcoming elections, making Shelke’s nomination seem like a mere formality, or so everyone speculated. However, the BJP has started opposing this arrangement.
The Maval BJP has already declared that they will not support MLA Sunil Shelke if he is nominated, accusing him of causing significant issues for BJP office-bearers and workers. Now, in addition to the BJP’s opposition, Shelke faces a challenge from within his own party. Senior NCP leader Bapusaheb Bhegade has also begun preparations for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections.
Bapusaheb Bhegade has said, “I have demanded candidacy from the party. It is not a crime to ask for candidacy. Last time, I also asked for the ticket, but the party brought in an external candidate. I didn’t oppose that decision and worked loyally to get the party’s MLA elected.”
There is speculation that if Bhegade is not given the ticket by the party, he might leave to join the Nationalist Congress Sharadchandra Pawar Party (NCP-SP) or contest the elections independently. However, Bhegade has not spoken publicly about these intentions yet.
