Pune: Pune district has four Lok Sabha seats. Pimpri-Chinchwad is a part of two Lok Sabha seats in Maval and Shirur.

On Wednesday, the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray has announced the name of Sanjog Waghere who will be contesting from Maval Lok Sabha on party ticket. He will in all likelihood take on Shrirang Barne of the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Waghere who has been fielded by the Shiv Sena (UBT) is a former NCP corporator. Just as election tempo was building up, Waghere joined the Shiv Sena (UBT) with a hope of getting the ticket for Lok Sabha elections. 

After Shrirang Barne joined the Shiv Sena led by Shinde, the Uddhav Sena was struggling to get a candidate. Finally, they latched on to Sanjog Waghere who hails from Pimprigaon area of Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Shrirang Barne has won the Maval seat two consecutive times. In 2019 elections, he had defeated Parth Pawar, son of Ajit Pawar. It was an embarrassing defeat for the Pawar family which had before this election never lost an election.

The Uddhav Sena is banking on Waghere to deliver the goods. While the Shinde is hopeful that Appa Barne will win the seat the third consecutive time.

The Maval constituencies spans Pune and Raigad districts. Three assembly constituents of Pimpri, Chinchwad and Maval are in Pune district while rest three are in Raigad district.