Pimpri: Dispute in Jagtap family over Chinchwad candidature ends
Pimpri: A dispute between the sister-in-law and the brother-in-law in the Jagtap family over the candidature from the Chinchwad Assembly constituency has ended.
MLA Ashwini Jagtap has withdrawn from the race. Some former corporators, along with Ashwini Jagtap, demanded the candidature for City Unit President Shankar Jagtap with party State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule. This has lessened headache for the BJP and has cleared the way for Shankar Jagtap to contest from Chinchwad, said reliable sources.
The late MLA Laxman Jagtap held sway over the Chinchwad Assembly seat right from its creation. He passed away after a protracted illness in 2023. Later, a tug of war started between his wife Ashwini and his brother Shankar over the candidature in the bypoll. Both demanded the party ticket but the party preferred Ashwini Jagtap, who won the bypoll in a triangular contest.
Rahul Kalate rebelled against the MVA candidate, NCP’s Nana Kate. Jagtap won by 36,000 votes. Sympathy and the rebellion saw her emerge victorious. Kate polled 99,000 votes.
Aswini Jagtap and Shankar Jagtap were aspirants for the State Assembly elections this time too. Both claimed the candidature. Rivals in the party opposed both of them. Around 15 former corporators demanded that anyone from among them should get the party ticket. Shankar Jagtap won only once in the civic elections. They also reasoned that the family has the MLA as well as the City Unit Chief. So, how many times could they be given posts? This episode exposed chinks in the party.
It appeared that the Jagtaps could not get the candidature. Then Ashwini declared her intention to not contest the poll. Moreover, she, along with some former corporators, demanded the candidature for Shankar Jagtap. Both met Bawankule in Pune, said the sources.