By Tejas

Pune, August 19, 2024: The Election Commission of India is expected to conduct the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections in December, prompting all major political parties in the state to ramp up their preparations. This election holds particular significance as alliances like Mahayuti and Mahavikas Aghadi must carefully navigate both inter-party and intra-party rivalries, with multiple contenders vying for nominations.

Following the recent splits in the Shiv Sena and NCP, a surge of potential candidates has emerged, intensifying the competition within parties. This situation poses a significant challenge for party leadership, as those who are denied a ticket might explore other options, potentially leading to internal discord.

A recent development in Pune's Kothrud assembly constituency has brought these tensions to the forefront. Amol Balwadkar, a former chairman of the city improvement committee and a BJP corporator, has publicly expressed his interest in contesting the Kothrud Assembly seat—a seat currently held by Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil.

In the 2019 elections, the BJP selected Chandrakant Patil, originally from Kolhapur, to run from Kothrud, sidelining the then-sitting MLA, Medha Kulkarni. Since then, Kulkarni has become a Rajya Sabha MP, and Murlidhar Mohol has been elected as an MP from Pune, leading to the assumption that Patil would likely contest from Kothrud again. However, Balwadkar's recent show of strength has stirred unrest within the party.

Today, on the occasion of Rakshabandhan, Balwadkar held a significant gathering in Balewadi, where he openly demanded the BJP ticket for the Kothrud constituency. "I am interested in contesting the assembly election from Kothrud on the BJP ticket. The BJP always selects candidates based on merit, and I believe the party will consider this carefully," Balwadkar stated.

However, he also issued a veiled warning to the party, indicating that if denied the ticket, he would explore other options. This assertion has intensified the internal tussle within the BJP, particularly concerning the Kothrud assembly seat, and underscores the broader challenges the party may face in maintaining unity ahead of the upcoming elections.