Pune: Devendra Fadnavis intervenes, Balwadkar withdraws from State election
Pune: State Minister Chandrakant Patil is the BJP candidate from the Kothrud Assembly segment. One of the party aspirants, Amol Balwadkar, took a different stance and declared his intention to fight as an independent from the constituency.
This would have adversely affected the party candidate’s prospects.
However, Patil and Balwadkar set aside their differences after Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis intervened. Balwadkar withdrew his candidature from the State Assembly election and announced his support to Patil.
On Monday, Chandrakant Patil met Amol Balwadkar, offered him a Pedha and asked him to not contest the poll.
‘Nation first, then party and then self’
Explaining his changed stance, BJP leader Amol Balwadkar said, “The BJP has been serving the people of this country loyally following the principle: ‘Nation first, then the party and last oneself’. I am hugely proud of being a part of the party. It has always been my intention to serve the people. I have fulfilled it as a representative of the people.
“However, I wanted to contest the State poll from the Kothrud Assembly constituency to fulfill wishes of the residents from the segment. Right from the beginning I insisted that I would contest from the BJP.
“However, Hon. Chandrakantdada Patil has been fielded by the party. I had differences with Patil over some issues. However, they have been cleared by my leader and BJP’s efficient DyCM Devendra Fadnavis. Therefore, I am withdrawing my candidature from the Kothrud State Assembly segment and am supporting Chandrakantdada Patil.
“I am committed to work for the BJP’s win from Kothrud in the State election. I will campaign hard for Chandrakantdada. I made the decision after consulting my workers and followers. I will never say ‘no’ to the people and will continue to work for their welfare in the future.”
