Pune Shiv Sena Pushes for Wadgaon Sheri, Hadapsar, and Khadakwasla Assembly Seats

Pune, 12th July 2024: In the Lok Sabha elections, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won seven seats, increasing their dominance and leading to their demand for three constituency seats from Pune in the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections. Pune Shiv Sena leaders have requested senior Mahayuti leaders to allow them to contest from Wadgaon Sheri, Hadapsar, and Khadakwasla constituencies. Wadgaon Sheri and Hadapsar currently have MLAs from the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), while Khadakwasla has a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA.

Following Shiv Sena’s demand, Pune BJP has taken an aggressive stance. In addition to the four constituencies where BJP has MLAs, they have also demanded the chance to contest from the Kasba Peth assembly. There still hasn’t been a decision on seat allocation from the Mahayuti higher command. BJP, Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and Shiv Sena will contest the upcoming elections unified, and preparations have started. Shiv Sena Pune City President Nana Bhangire has made a request to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde about contesting three seats in Pune.

In the last elections, Shiv Sena was unified and contested alongside BJP, with no two factions. At that time, Shiv Sena didn’t get a chance to contest any seat from Pune. That is why Sena is trying desperately to get seats this time. BJP has MLAs in Parvati, Kothrud, Shivajinagar, Cantonment, and Khadakwasla. Wadgaon Sheri and Hadapsar have Ajit Pawar-led NCP MLAs. The Kasba Peth assembly was lost by BJP in a by-election when Indian National Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar was elected as MLA.

Shiv Sena Pune City Chief Nana Bhangire said, “Mahayuti will contest the assembly elections together. In this regard, a proposal has been given to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde that Hadapsar, Wadgaon Sheri, and Khadakwasla should be for Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena will get these seats in the Mahayuti.”

BJP Pune City President Dheeraj Ghate said, “There are BJP MLAs in Khadakwasla, Parvati, Shivajinagar, Pune Cantonment, and Kothrud. Even though the Kasba Peth seat was lost in the by-election, the BJP has a right to it. So BJP needs six seats. But senior leaders will decide the seat allotment.”