Pune: Political Tensions Rise as Jagdish Mulik Claims Wadgaon Sheri Seat for BJP
Wadgaon Sheri, 25th June 2024: Jagdish Mulik, Member of the slative Council (MLC) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has asserted his claim on the Wadgaon Sheri Constituency in Pune for the upcoming Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly elections. The current MLA, Sunil Tingare of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), also part of Mahayuti, faces a challenge from Mulik, sparking tensions within the alliance.
Mulik and Tingare have a history of electoral rivalry, each having won one election against the other in the past. As banners and posters declaring Mulik as the next MLA surface in Wadgaon Sheri, political friction within Mahayuti intensifies, particularly concerning seat allocations in Pune District.
Previously considered a strong contender for Lok Sabha elections, Mulik’s BJP candidacy was redirected to Muralidhar Mohol, whom Mulik actively supported. Now, Mulik shifts focus to securing the legislative assembly seat, posing a significant challenge to Tingare’s incumbency.
Tingare, associated with Ajit Pawar’s faction within NCP, faced controversy over the Kalyani Nagar Porsche incident, where he was accused of influencing police actions. Despite defending himself against allegations, doubts persist among voters regarding Tingare’s candidacy in the upcoming elections.
Internally, NCP grapples with uncertainties following recent electoral setbacks, potentially affecting Tingare’s prospects in retaining the Wadgaon Sheri seat. Discussions within the party indicate discontentment, posing further challenges to Tingare’s nomination.
