The way Sharad Pawar brought the leaders of the Mahayuti in Western Maharashtra to his side in the Lok Sabha elections, a repeat episode of the same i.e. ‘Mission Tutari’ can now be seen before the assembly elections as well. Tutari is the election symbol of Sharad Pawar’s NCP. In the Lok Sabha elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) surprised the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra by winning 30 out of 48 seats. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP got only one seat, Raigad, while the Sharad Pawar faction got eight seats. After the way Sharad Pawar registered a big victory in the Lok Sabha elections even after the party split, now everyone’s eyes are on the upcoming assembly elections, where he is preparing to bring the Ajit faction and BJP leaders to his side.
Sharad Pawar has started his mission from Kolhapur. Sharad Pawar is now ready to field BJP’s rebel leader Samarjisingh Ghatge against Ajit Pawar’s minister in Kolhapur’s Kagal constituency. On September 3, Samarjit Singh Ghatge will officially join the Nationalist Congress (Sharadchandra Pawar). This program has been organized at Gaibi Chowk in Kolhapur. Samarjit Singh Ghatge himself has also confirmed this. Not only this, now after Kagal in Kolhapur, Sharad Pawar is seen adopting new strategies to defeat nephew Ajit Pawar and BJP in Satara’s Wai, Solapur’s Madha, Pune’s Indapur and Junnar constituencies.
Who is Samarjit Singh Ghatge?
41-year-old Samarjit Singh Ghatge belongs to the family of Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur. He is a chartered accountant by profession. He has a strong influence among the youth. On the other hand, he has been working in the cooperative sector for a long time. He is the director of Chhatrapati Shahu Milk and Agro Producer Company and has also been the chairman of Pune MHADA. Samarjit Ghatge is considered to be the closest leader to Devendra Fadnavis in Western Maharashtra. But in the Mahayuti, Kagal constituency is going to fall in the share of Nationalist Congress (Ajit Pawar). And Ajit Pawar will not upset a strong leader like Hasan Mushrif. Keeping this in mind, Samarjit Singh Ghatge has decided to go with Sharad Pawar. BJP had offered MLC to Samarjit Singh. But he turned it down. He has informed all the BJP leaders about his decision. BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik did try to change his vote but he did not succeed.
Has Makarand Patil found an alternative in Satara’s Y constituency?
After Kolhapur, Sharad Pawar’s party has focused on Satara. There, efforts are being made to bet on Madan Bhosale, son of former Congress leader Prataprao Bhosale, who was a staunch opponent of Sharad Pawar’s politics. And that is why Sharad Pawar’s NCP state president Jayant Patil met Madan Bhosale last week. Madan Bhosale has been an MLA from Wai constituency in 2004. But later Sharad Pawar’s party leader Makarand Patil kept him away by making his considerable influence here. But now Makarand Patil is with Ajit Pawar, so Sharad Pawar’s party is now trying to take Madan Bhosale with them. It is worth noting that Madan Bhosale joined BJP only in 2019. He had an expectation of getting help for the sugar mills, which was not fulfilled. Now his daughter also seems to be very active in Wai constituency.
Will Baban Shinde return home to Madha?
After Satara, there is a stir in Madha assembly constituency as well. Because six-time MLA Baban Shinde had joined Ajit Pawar. But just before the elections, Baban Shinde and his son Ranjit Singh met Sharad Pawar at his residence in Pune last week. This time Baban Shinde wants to field his son Ranjit from Madha. But at the same time, Baban Shinde’s nephew Dhanraj is also in touch with Sharad Pawar’s party. Therefore, it is believed that instead of taking political risks, Baban Shinde is in the mood to return home.
Is Harshvardhan Patil also trying to find a new way?
Harshvardhan Patil won four elections from 1995 to 2009 as an independent. He joined the Congress before the 2014 elections. He worked as the Minister of Cooperation and Parliamentary Affairs. Whenever there was a discussion about the Chief Ministerial candidate from Maharashtra, Harshvardhan’s name also figured in the list of speculations. But as the alliance between the Congress and NCP broke down in 2014, Ajit Pawar broke into Harshvardhan’s stronghold. Ajit Pawar fielded his close aide Datta Bharne from there, who also won.
It is believed that in 2019, Ajit Pawar had promised to leave the Indapur constituency in exchange for helping Supriya Sule. But later Ajit Pawar did not keep that promise. Therefore, when Ajit Pawar’s wife stood in the Lok Sabha elections, Harshvardhan took a rebellious stance. But after Fadnavis’s mediation, everything calmed down. Now it is believed that this time Datta Bharne is not in the mood to back down. At the same time, Supriya Sule is speaking the language of sympathy for Harshvardhan. After which it is believed that Sharad Pawar is inviting Harshvardhan to join his party through gestures. Now everyone’s eyes are on what Harshvardhan will do.
Will Atul Benke get entry in Junnar?
Ever since the results of the Lok Sabha elections have come out, Atul Benke is ready to join Sharad Pawar’s party. But MP Dr. Amol Kolhe has blocked his way. Atul Benke met Sharad Pawar thrice before this. Even on Sunday, when Sharad Pawar had a program at the institute in Otur, Atul Benke put up big posters to welcome him. Not only this, he also praised the work of Sharad Pawar and Dr. Kolhe in his speech. Not only this, Atul Benke’s father Vallabh Benke, who has been an MLA four times, has a very close relationship with Sharad Pawar. Now it remains to be seen whether Atul Benke will benefit from this or not.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)