Photo Credit: TV9 Marathi

Tejas Navale

Pune: As the filing of nominations commenced for the Maval and Shirur Lok Sabha Constituencies on Thursday, it has become evident that a tough battle is on the cards.

Maval Constituency:

The political landscape in Maval is heating up as Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi announced Madhavi Joshi as its candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This announcement adds a new dimension to the electoral battle, with Joshi vying for the seat against MP Shrirang Barne of the Mahayuti coalition and former mayor Sanjog Waghere representing the Maha Vvlikas Aghadi.

Joshi's journey to Vanchit comes after expressing interest in contesting Sharad Pawar's NCP ticket, but the allocation of the Maval seat went to the Shiv Sena (UBT) Thackeray group within the Maha Vikas Aaghadi. Therefore, Joshi entered Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and got the party ticket. Now, with candidates from three distinct political fronts in the fray, Maval promises to witness an intense electoral showdown.

Shirur Constituency:

In Shirur, the dynamics are no less intriguing. Initially, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi nominated Mangaldas Bandal as their candidate. However, Bandal's candidature faced a sudden reversal after meeting BJP leader Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and taking an anti-party stance.

Consequently, Aftab Anwar Maqbool Shaikh has been announced as the new candidate representing Vanchit. This development sets the stage for a three-way battle in Shirur, with Vanchit's Shaikh joining the fray alongside candidates like Mahavikas Aaghadi's candidate, Dr. Amol Kolhe, and Mahayuti's candidate, Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil.

With these recent developments, both Maval and Shirur constituencies are witnessing a surge in political activity and anticipation. As the election campaign gains momentum, the electorate eagerly awaits the outcome of these multi-cornered battles.