Parties discuss bypolls, contest decision pending

Pune: The local units of the BJP, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress have started preliminary discussions over bypoll strategies even as the decision regarding contesting the elections for the Kasba Peth and Chinchwad assembly constituencies is still pending.A key meeting of the BJP leaders took place on Friday in presence of guardian minister Chandrakant Patil to review the situation of Kasba Peth seat.

A BJP functionary said that all the options are still open and that the party was readying the plans to ensure a comfortable win in case of a contest. Both seats were won by the BJP with a comfortable margin in the 2019 elections. While Kasba Peth is considered as the BJP stronghold, the party has set up base in Chinchwad in the last decade.The Kasba Peth seat was with the Congress during the previous election. A senior leader from the Congress said that the party was in favour of contesting the seat. “Our talks with party workers are on. The candidature is expected to be out soon,” the leader said.The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders are yet to take a call on candidatures. Political observers said that the decision is not going to be easy as the workers of Shiv Sena (UBT) are keen on fighting for the Kasba Peth seat.A Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said, “The equations have changed in the last two years. Our party has a strong base in Kasba Peth. We have expressed our desire to contest the polls and have started preparations for the same.” A senior BJP official said that the party was expecting an unopposed election in both the seats but if the opponents decide to go ahead with their candidatures, the BJP will be ready for a contest.The BJP sources said that former corporators from Kasba Peth have expressed their desire to contest the poll. “The party will win the seat comfortably,” a functionary said.