Stage set for assembly polls in Pune

Even though the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is yet to formally announce names of four of its candidates in Pune, the picture of the ensuing contests in eight

Even though the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is yet to formally announce names of four of its candidates in Pune, the picture of the ensuing contests in eight constituencies is more or less clear.

Of the eight seats in the city, NCP has decided to contest four seats, Congress on three and on one seat, their smaller alliance partner will field a candidate.

On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has already announced the candidates for all the eight assembly constituencies, leaving no seat for the Shiv Sena. The Congress has already announced the tickets for three constituencies which the party is fighting on.

In the Khadakwasla assembly constituency, there is likely to be a straight fight between BJP candidate MLA Bhimrao Tapkir and the NCP nominee. Sitting NCP corporator Sachin Dodke is a hopeful here. Dodke is representing Warje and has been elected twice as a member of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

Wadgaonsheri seat is also likely to witness a straight fight between the BJP candidate and MLA Jagdish Mulik and NCP nominee, who is likely to be Sachin Tingre. Tingre had last time unsuccessfully contested the Assembly elections from the Shiv Sena against Mulik. Later, Tingre joined the NCP and is a corporator in the PMC.

In the Hadapsar constituency, there will mostly be a triangular contest between nominees of the BJP, NCP and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). While the BJP has fielded sitting MLA Yogesh Tilekar, NCP nominee is likely to be its city unit president Chetan Tupe. MNS has fielded PMC corporator Vasant More.

In Parvati, NCP leaders maintained that party has chosen Ashwini Kadam as a candidate against BJP MLA Madhuri Misal. Kadam is a three-time corporator. Congress leader Aba Bagul was interested to contest from Parvati, but as the seat is with the NCP, Bagul did not get a ticket.

The picture in the Kasba Assembly constituency is clear and the BJP has given a ticket to mayor Mukta Tilak and Congress has given ticket to opposition leader in PMC Arvind Shinde. Congress corproator Ravindra Dhagekar is planning to rebel and will file the nomination form as an independent on Thursday, said sources aware of the development. Dhangekar has fought against former MLA Girish Bapat twice in the Kasba Assembly constituency.

In Shivajinagar, a straight fight is between BJP corporator Siddharth Shirole and Congress candidate Datta Bahirat. Last time too, Bahirat contested the Assembly elections from this constituency.

Meanwhile, Kothrud, which has become a high profile seat after the BJP fielded its state unit chief Chandrakant Patil, is also likely to see triangular contest. MNS has filed Kishor Shinde from here though the Congress-NCP and smaller parties have not disclosed their cards.

BOX

Contests in Pune

Kasba peth

BJP- Mukta Tilak

Congress – Arvind Shinde

Congress rebel – Ravindra Dhangekar

Shiv Sena rebel – Vishal Dhanwade

MNS- Ajay Shinde

Pune Cantonment

BJP- Sunil Kamble

Congress – Ramesh Bagwe

Shivajinagar

BJP- Siddharth Shirole

Congress – Datta Bahirat

Hadapsar

BJP- Yogesh Tilekar

NCP- Chetan Tupe

MNS- Vasant More

Wadgaonsheri

BJP- Jagdish Mulik

NCP- Sunil Tingre

Khadakwasla

BJP- Bhimrao Tapkir

NCP- Sachin Dodke

Kothrud

BJP- Chandrakant Patil

Congress-NCP- Not fielded as of now

MNS- Kishor Shinde

Parvati

BJP- Maduri Misal

NCP- Ashwini Kadam

Congress rebel – Aba Bagul