Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Urban parts hold key in Maval, Shirur

Observers say even 50 per cent polling in these segments can make or mar the prospects of candidate

With polls for Maval and Shirur, the two parliamentary constituencies from Pune district, are just 24 hours away, political parties have focused on some of the urban areas of these seats, essentially known to be semi-rural.

Shrirang Barne (second from left), sitting member of Parliament and Shiv Sena candidate from Maval Lok sabha constituency, wave to supporters at a road show organised at Chinchwad on the last day of campaigning in Pune on Saturday. (HT PHOTO)

Realising that urban centres like Panvel, Chinchwad and Hadapsar hold key to Maval and Shirur respectively, the two constituencies in Pune district where campaign ended on Saturday, the candidates have tried to reach out to maximum voters.

In Maval, Parth Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) nominee and Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew, in locked in a fight against Shiv Sena’s Shrirang Barne, a sitting MP seeking re-election. In Shirur, Marathi actor Dr Amol Kolhe is contesting the polls from NCP against Sena leader and three-time MP Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil.

Panvel and Chinchwad assembly segments under Maval Lok Sabha seat along with Hadapsar in Shirur have highest number of voters, making candidates to focus on these areas.

Maval has around 22.79 lakh electors of which Panvel alone in Navi Mumbai has over 5.39 lakh. Chinchwad, known to be an industrial town near Pune, has 5.02 lakh voters. Similarly, Hadapsar assembly segment on the eastern part of Pune and part of Shirur, has over 4.87 lakh electors. The total number of electors in this constituency is 21.73 lakh voters.

While these urban centres have witnessed relatively lower turnout during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls compared to rural parts, observers say even 50 per cent polling in these segments can make or mar the prospects of candidate.

In 2014, Maval LS seat witnessed 60.16 per cent polling though Panvel, Chinchwad and Pimpri saw 58.53 per cent, 55.23 per cent and 48.43 per cent respectively. In the case of Shirur, which saw 60 per cent polling, Hadapsar segment witnessed only 48.52 per cent.

“Apart from these urban centres having higher number of electors, it is seen that cities vote in pattern while voters from villages by virtue of being distantly located from each other, may chose different candidates,” said Chitra Lele, professor of political science at SNDT.

Lele’s analysis was well reflected in the campaign carried out by both NCP and Shiv Sena. Be it Parth Pawar, Amol Kolhe or their rivals, their focus was more on parts known to be urban centres.

On the day when campaign concluded, Parth was in Panvel while Kolhe was in Bhosari where NCP leader Ajit Pawar held a rally. In the case of Sena nominees, both were busy campaigning in Pimpri-Chinchwad areas.

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Total number of voters in Shirur: 21,73,424

Assembly segments under Shirur and number of electors:

Junnar: 2,98,848

Ambegaon: 2,80,334

Khed Alandi: 3,23,051

Shirur: 3,69,812

Bhosari: 4,13,680

Hadapsar: 44,87,699

Total number of voters in Maval: 2,29,7405

Assembly segments under Maval and number of electors

Panvel: 5,39,187

Karjat: 2,79,790

Uran: 2,90,273

Maval: 3,37,657

Chinchavad: 5,02,740

Pimpri: 3,47,758