Maharashtra Polls: 303 Candidates Compete for 21 Assembly Seats in Pune District

In Pune district, 303 candidates are contesting across 21 assembly seats after 179 candidates withdrew their nominations on the final day of the process, according to an official. Initially, 482 candidates had submitted their nomination forms. The withdrawal left 303 contenders in the race, as confirmed by a district poll official.

The most notable contest is in Baramati, where Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar faces his nephew, NCP SP candidate Yugendra Pawar. In Kothrud, senior BJP leader and state minister Chandrakant Patil will compete against Shiv Sena UBT's Chandrakant Mokate, a former MLA. Meanwhile, in Parvati, BJP's sitting MLA Madhuri Misal is set for a direct contest with NCP SP's Ashwini Jagtap.

Key Contests in Pune District

In Kasba, BJP's Hemant Rasane will challenge Congress's sitting MLA Ravindra Dhangekar. Vadgaon Sheri sees NCP MLA Sunil Tingre against NCP SP candidate Bapusaheb Pathare. In Shivajinagar, BJP's Siddhart Shirole will face Congress's Datta Bahirat. The Pune cantonment constituency has sitting MLA Sunil Kamble competing with Congress leader and former minister Avinash Bagve.

Hadapsar features a contest between NCP's Chetan Tupe and NCP SP candidate Prashant Jagtap. In Indapur, Harshavardhan Patil, who switched from BJP to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP SP, is up against sitting NCP MLA Dattatray Bharne. These contests highlight the dynamic political landscape in Pune district.

Historical Context and Election Dates

Parvati was traditionally a Congress stronghold. Despite being given the seat three times, the NCP never secured a win there. "So I decided to contest," said Congress rebel Ulhas alias Aaba Bagul. This historical context adds another layer to the current political dynamics in the region.

The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with results expected on November 23. This election period is crucial for all parties involved as they vie for control over these significant constituencies.