PUNE: Kothrud is a key seat for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during this State Assembly polls. Its State President Chandrakant Patil is contesting from here while Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate Kishor Shinde is being supported by the Congress-National Congress Party (NCP). It remains to be seen whether MNS would benefit from their support. In Khadakwasla, it is a straight fight between sitting BJP MLA Bhimrao Tapkir and NCP corporator Sachin Dodke.
Though Shinde is supported by the Congress-NCP and BJP’s Patil is an outsider in Kothrud, Shinde does not appear to be strong as against Patil.
Chandrakant Patil has pacified agitated coalition partner Shiv Sena leaders and overcome differences within his own camp. Initially, Patil faced a lot of criticism. The Brahmin Mahasangh openly opposed his candidature. The Maratha community was also disappointed as BJP did not give representation to them. Sitting MLA Medha Kulkarni openly expressed her displeasure over the party’s choice. She won sympathy of local people. Shiv Sena was also ready to field a rebel. Patil was facing adverse conditions.
On NCP Chief Sharad Pawar’s instructions, the NCP-Congress declared support to Shinde to defeat Patil by taking advantage of the disappointed Shiv Sena, the outsider issue and the unrest in the Maratha and Brahmin communities. However, Patil slowly succeeded in resolving these issues.
He has gone a step ahead with the publication of the manifesto for the Kothrud constituency. Normally, a party unit does not release constituency-wise manifestos. Sitting MLA Kulkarni has a huge following in Kothrud and has done development work there. She is now actively participating in the campaign. Shiv Sena leaders are also taking part in the campaign. The Brahmin Mahasangh declared support to Patil.
MNS candidate Shinde has not been able to capitalise on negative aspects of his opponent. Not a single NCP or Congress leader has conducted a rally or a road show for him in Kothrud.
Shinde is contesting for the third time from Kothrud. Now, MNS is no more an influential party. Raj Thackeray’s closeness to NCP Chief Sharad Pawar and NCP’s support to Shinde may fetch him some votes. In fact, Raj Thackeray has lost his identity by following NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, said some political observer. All these factors will pose a challenge for Shinde.
NCP’S THRUST ON RURAL WHILE BJP STRONG IN URBAN
Khadakwasla constituency comprises rural and urban areas. The NCP’s thrust is on rural areas. Sachin Dodke is the NCP candidate while BJP’s Bhimrao Tapkir is a second-term MLA.
The constituency is part of the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, represented by NCP leader Supriya Sule. NCP did not lead in the segment during the Lok Sabha polls, particularly from urban parts and so NCP is concentrating on rural areas. Development work done by Sule may help to certain extent. NCP leaders and workers have family relations in rural parts of Khadakwasla, which is a plus point for them.
BJP has a stronghold in urban part of constituency. In 2009, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate Ramesh Wanjale won the seat. After his death, BJP’s Tapkir won the by-election. He also won the 2014 Assembly polls. Now, BJP has created a strong network in urban areas. BJP has a strong network in urban parts falling under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Most corporators from Khadakwasla belong to BJP. Being the ruling party in the PMC and the State, local representatives have done substantial development work, which will help the BJP.
