Pune: Maha Yuti’s ‘Purandar’ tussle may have its echo in ‘Hadapsar’

Pune: It is said that the NCP (AP) rebel candidate fielded from the Purandar Assembly segment will have its repercussions in the Hadapsar Assembly constituency for the Maha Yuti.

The Shiv Sena (BT) in the Maha Yuti has been allotted the lone seat of Purandar in the district. Shiv Sena (BT) candidate Vijay Shivtare is contesting against Congress-Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate Sanjay Jagtap. The NCP (AP) has also fielded Sambhaji Zende, a rebel candidate from the Maha Yuti, from Purandar.

Ajit Pawar and Vijay Shivtare are sworn political rivals. Shivtare wanted to rebel against the Maha Yuti candidate in the Lok Sabha election from the Baramati Lok Sabha poll.

However, he withdrew his nominations at the last moment. Ajit Pawar promised Shivtare that he would support him during the State poll. However, NCP (AP) candidate Sunetra Pawar trailed behind winner NCP (SP) candidate Supriya Sule by 35,000 votes in the Purandar Assembly seat during the Lok Sabha election.

This sent a message to the NCP (AP) that Shivtare did not work for the Maha Yuti candidate. NCP (AP) workers were upset with this and wanted to teach Shivtare a lesson. This has resulted in a ‘tussle’ between the NCP (AP) and the Shiv Sena (BT) in Purandar.

A large area of Fursungi, Uruli Devachi, Yevalewadi, Handewadi is under the Purandar Assembly segment. The Hadapsar Assembly constituency is adjacent to this, where NCP (AP) candidate Chetan Tupe is contesting. The Shiv Sena (BT) has presence in the Hadapsar area.

Now, Shiv Sena (BT) workers in the Hadapsar area want to give a tit-for-tat to the NCP (AP) for the treatment meted out to their candidate in Purandar. Apparently, they say that they are united in the Maha Yuti but they may work against the NCP (AP) candidate at the last moment. Tupe has to overcome this challenge.