Pune: Tensions flared in the Mahayuti alliance as incumbent MP Shrirang Barne’s bid for candidature in the Maval Lok Sabha constituency faced staunch opposition from supporters of former BJP minister Bala Bhegade. The volatile situation unfolded during Barne’s visit to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to discuss his candidature, with Bhegade’s backers vehemently demanding that their leader be nominated instead.
The aggressive stance taken by Bhegade’s supporters revealed the deep-seated rift within Mahayuti, casting a shadow over Barne’s prospects of securing the ticket. Moreover, MLA Sunil Shelke’s open opposition to Barne’s candidature further complicates matters, signalling a unified front against the incumbent MP within the constituency.
Today, a gathering of party workers and office bearers convened in Maval, presided over by Bala Bhegade, witnessed fervent objections to Barne’s candidature. BJP loyalists voiced their dissatisfaction, asserting that they had previously supported Barne twice but were now vehemently opposed to his nomination. In a unified stance, office-bearers proposed Bhegade as the preferred candidate for Mahayuti in the Maval constituency.
The palpable discord within Mahayuti spells trouble for Barne’s political aspirations, with the opposition intensifying from various quarters. The fervent calls for Bhegade’s candidature and the unified front against Barne underscore the daunting challenges facing the incumbent MP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.