Pune: Tough road ahead for both Maha Yuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi in Kasba Peth segment

Pune: Both the rival alliances in the State Assembly elections, the Maha Yuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), are facing rebellion and unhappy aspirants in the Kasba Peth State Assembly segment.

Many community organisations of the Brahmin community appealed to all parties, particularly the BJP, to field a community member. However, the party has given candidature to a non-Brahmin candidate.

BJP City Unit President Dheeraj Ghate was an aspirant from the Brahmin community. He was denied the party ticket. Former Mayor and Congress leader Kamal Vyavahare is contesting as an independent after the MVA denied her the candidature from Kasba Peth.

The BJP had to face defeat in the bypoll in the party’s citadel two years ago. It was said that the party suffered as it did not field a Brahmin candidate. This time, the same issue cropped up as the State elections were declared.

Representation for the Brahmin community was demanded from 30 seats in the State, including Kasba Peth and Kothrud. There was a possibility that names of Kunal Tilak, the late MLA Mukta Tilak’s son and the late MP Girish Bapat’s daughter-in-law Swarada would be considered. But the party leadership gave preference to former Standing Committee Chairman Hemant Rasane. It was a delayed decision.

Dheeraj Ghate immediately expressed his displeasure over the party’s decision. Fearing a Brahmin-non-Brahmin tussle, the Sakal Brahman Samaj supported the Maha Yuti candidate. However, Ghate’s unhappiness continued. This may increase problems for the BJP. Ghate may clarify his stand in a couple of days.

Ghate, in a social media post, said, “The party leadership wants a ‘Hindutva’ government. But, they do not want a worker, who has been working for the party for the past 30 years, as a party candidate.”

In the opposite camp, rebellion is evident in the MVA, which fielded sitting MLA Ravindra Dhangekar. But party infighting started as former Mayor Kamal Vyavahare announced her candidature as an independent. She met Swarajya Party President Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati. She may contest the poll from the Swarajya Party.

Vyavahare said, “I have been getting elected as a corporator for the past 30 years. But the party did not consider my name for the State poll. I am quitting the party due to frequent denial of opportunity.”

Even as it is discussed whether the MVA would retain the constituency or whether the BJP would snatch it back, the fight in Kasba Peth has become interesting due to some dramatic developments.