Mumbai: The MLC polls for the Nashik graduate constituency will be a straight but interesting battle between Congress rebel Satyajeet Tambe and BJP rebel Shubhangi Patil. It is the only seat in the state where the two candidates are in the fray without the support of their respective parties while elsewhere a straight contest is on the cards between official nominees of Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and BJP.
A day after the veteran Congressman and sitting legislator from Nashik division, Sudhir Tambe, was suspended by the AICC for his failure to submit papers as a Congress nominee and his son entered the fray as an Independent, the Maha Vikas Aghadi has extended support to Patil; the BJP is yet to decide on extending support to Tambe though. ``There is no question of supporting the candidature of Tambe, since he has not asked for it. In the event, he seeks support, then deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule will take a decision in consultation with the BJP high command,’’ BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said.
In a letter to Sudhir Tambe, the head of AICC's disciplinary action committee, Tariq Anwar, said instead of filing nomination papers before the due date, Tambe had put up his son Satyajeet as an independent candidate with the support of the BJP. ``You are prima facie guilty of grave indiscipline,’’ Anwar said in his letter. Satyajeet Tambe has described the AICC action as unfair and a figment of imagination of detractors of the families of Tambe and Congress legislature party leader Balasasheb Thorat, who is Sudhir Tambe's brother-in-law.
In the Nagpur division teacher’s constituency, BJP has re-nominated N G Ganar as its nominee, while Congress has nominated Vidarbha Madhyamik Shikshak Sangh president Sudhakar Adbale. In a related development, NCP has expelled rebel candidate Satish Itkelwar who is contesting on his own from the division while Shiv Sena nominee Gagadhar Nakde has withdrawn his nomination as per the agreement in the MVA.
In Amravati graduate constituency, there will be a straight contest between sitting legislator Ranjeet Patil (BJP) and Congress nominee Dhiraje Lingade. In Konkan division teachers’ constituency, sitting legislator Balaram Patil of PWP, supported by MVA, will take on BJP’s Gyaneshwar Mhatre, who was earlier with the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, but shifted to BJP. In Marathwada division teachers’ constituency, NCP has re-nominated Vikram Kale against BJP’s Kiran Patil. NCP has expelled rebel candidate Pradeep Salunke for filing nomination papers against the party’s advice.
The otherwise routine MLC elections have generated interest following the entry of former state youth Congress president Satyajeet Tambe as an independent and the failure of his father to contest on a Congress nomination following which the senior Tambe was suspended for anti-party activities. Besides, the MVA's efforts to forge a consensus around candidates has also made the elections more competitive.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.
Start a Conversation
Post comment