Pimpri: Will Moreshwar Bhondve’s entry into Shiv Sena (UBT) change equations in Chinchwad?
Pimpri: The last date of filing nominations for the State Assembly elections is approaching fast. However, the two major alliances in the State have still not finalised seat-sharing.
It is still not clear who will be fielded from the Chinchwad Assembly segment by the alliances. According to the details received, the seat was to be allotted in the MVA to the NCP (SP) initially. But Maha Yuti-NCP (AP) corporator Moreshwar Bhondve on Friday (October 18) joined the Shiv Sena (UBT). This indicated that the seat may go to the Shiv Sena (UBT).
Bhondve is an aspirant from the Chinchwad seat. He crossed over with the hope that he would get the candidature. It is assumed that the Chinchwad constituency would be allotted to the Shiv Sena (UBT). Bhondve preferred to side with Ajit Pawar after the split in the NCP. He has served as a corporator of the party for two terms. He worked as the Executive President of the NCP (AP).
He was insisting that the party should contest from the seat. However, as per the formula of the Maha Yuti, the seat has gone to the BJP. Therefore, he changed the party. Bhondve fought the State poll in 2014.
Reliable sources said that BJP’s Shankar Jagtap is most likely to get the candidature as his sister-in-law and sitting MLA Ashwini Jagtap has withdrawn from the race. She, along with Shankar Jagtap and former corporators, met State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule in Pune and demanded the candidature for Shankar Jagtap.
