Vinay Kore yet to clear his stand

KOLHAPUR

: A straight fight is expected between farmers' leader Raju Shetti and Shiv Sena nominee Dhairyasheel Mane at

Hatkanangale

, but former minister and local strongman Vinay Kore has not yet cleared his stand.


The Jansurajya Party leader, Kore, considerable presence in parts of

Kolhapur district

. Kore had formally joined the BJP-led coalition but has not signalled his support to Mane considering local politics.

Kore was defeated by Shiv Sena's Satyajeet Patil from

Panhala

assembly seat during the last election. Kore is worried that if the Shiv Sena - BJP alliance continues for assembly elections, it will be difficult for him to contest from Panhala.

Hatkanangle constituency comprises six assembly segments, but only one of them is with NCP (Islampur). Two other seats are with BJP (

Shirala

, Ichalkaranji) and three with Shiv Sena (Hatkanangle, Shirol and Shahuwadi-Panhala). However, in all assembly seats, the local leaders are campaigning for their respective candidates keeping an eye on state assembly elections and Kore is no exception.

Sources said Kore and Shetti are traditional foes and Kore has formally joined with NDA. Despite this, he has not yet signalled support to Mane, considering the local level politics. He has not openly supported to either Mane or Shetti. He even did not attend the rally organised by Shiv Sena and BJP in Kolhapur in which official campaigning in the state was launched in the presence of Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray.

Several senior leaders, including former MP Nivedita Mane, have met Kore to garner his support but he has not openly come out in support of anyone, nor has he asked his supporters to campaign for anyone.