Pune: Dramatic developments in Maval, contest promises to be interesting

Pune: The State Assembly election in the Maval constituency is set to be an interesting battle after NCP (AP) rebel Bapu Bhegade announced his intention to contest as an independent. His party has given the poll ticket to sitting MLA Sunil Shelke.

Bapu Bhegade has not only been supported by former BJP MLA Bala Bhegade and BJP Kisan Morcha State President Ganesh Bhegade after quitting their party posts but has also been backed by the NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar, who has decided to not field the party candidate.

The NCP (SP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT) from the MVA announced earlier that they would not support any independent candidate. It was claimed that the MVA had decided their candidate from Maval, whose name would be announced.

However, there was no unanimity within the MVA as to which party would be allotted the seat. In this backdrop, the NCP (SP) backed Bapu Bhegade. NCP (SP) Taluka President Dattatraya Padwal said that the decision to support Bhegade was taken after consultations with senior party leaders from Maval such as Madan Bafna and Jagannath Shewale.

Meanwhile, the Maval Assembly election will be prestigious and is likely to be talked about across the State.