Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Pune district are struggling to find a candidate to contest against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar’s daughter in the poll arena.
Supriya Sule, Pawar’s daughter, is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Baramati constituency.
Local BJP leaders have suggested several candidates to the party, including actresses such as Hema Malini, Smriti Irani and popular Marathi screen actress Mrinal Kulkarni.
Baramati is the stomping ground of the Pawars, what with the NCP chief having nurtured the constituency for more than four decades.
“We will need a candidate who can at least put up a good fight if not win,” said a Pune BJP leader, requesting anonymity because of lack of authorisation to talk to the media. “Either we get somebody with glamour-value or we go for a local candidate who can pull in the votes.”
Among the local party workers under consideration are former district BJP president Sangita Naik-Nimbalkar and Girija Kakade.
Both come from families that have had a member record victories from Baramati in the past.
Pune district BJP president Digambar Bhegde said he had suggested three names, including that of Kakade, but would not reveal more details.
{{/usCountry}}Pune district BJP president Digambar Bhegde said he had suggested three names, including that of Kakade, but would not reveal more details.
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