Shirur Assembly Constituency Set for a Fierce Battle; Sharad Pawar Loyalist Ashok Pawar to Face Opposition Challenge

Pune:

The Shirur assembly constituency is poised to be one of the most closely watched contests in the upcoming state elections. Sharad Pawar loyalist and former MLA Ad. Ashok Pawar is preparing to make another bid for the seat. His campaign is expected to face stiff opposition from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, who are eager to defeat him following his defection during the Lok Sabha elections.

During the Lok Sabha campaign for Dr. Amol Kolhe, Sharad Pawar himself hinted that Ashok Pawar could be awarded a ministerial position. As a result, it is widely expected that Ashok Pawar’s candidacy from the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP is all but confirmed. Meanwhile, the Mahayuti alliance is yet to finalise its candidate, as both the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP are staking a claim to this seat.

From the BJP, Jayashree Palande, a district bank director, is considered a leading contender for the ticket. Additionally, Pradeep Kand has also expressed interest in running for the seat. On the other hand, Dadapatil Pharate, who recently joined the NCP (Ajit Pawar group) with the expectation that this seat would go to the NCP as the incumbent MLA belongs to the NCP.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP holds a significant advantage in Shirur, having secured a majority of 27,000 votes in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. Additionally, Ashok Pawar also wields considerable influence in the region, having been at the helm of the Ghodganga Sugar Factory for nearly 25 years.

However, numerous pressing issues are impacting the constituency. Traffic congestion on the Pune-Nagar and Pune-Solapur highways remains a major concern, alongside the closure of the Raosahebdada Pawar Ghodganga Co-operative Sugar Factory. The rapid industrialisation of Ranjangaon MIDC, Koregaon Bhima, Sanaswadi, and Shikrapur areas has also exacerbated pollution problems in the assembly.

Additionally, the influx of migrant workers has led to rising poverty and crime in several villages, and solid waste management and sewage disposal have also become critical issues in many key areas.