Pune: The lanes and bylanes of Kothrud assembly constituency were all about crowd, colours, songs and slogans as poll campaign reached the crescendo with the candidates attempting to connect with maximum voters on the last Sunday before the Nov 20 battle of ballots . In the afternoon, over 500 people sporting bright saffron mufflers and carrying "Mashaal", symbol of Shiv Sena (UBT), gathered around the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue for a rally to garner votes for Chandrakant Mokate , the MVA's pick for the prestigious seat. They were accompanied by two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws, with loudspeakers fitted on them blaring "Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena", the anthem of the undivided Shiv Sena.
Actor-turned-politician Amol Kolhe was the principal attraction of the foot march that went through the lanes of Kothrud, crossing bustling market places and otherwise quiet residential areas. "Common people and farmers are suffering due to BJP's policies. The high rate of inflation is the outcome of their decisions.
BJP is a party of back-stabbers and has created rifts in parties such as NCP and Shiv Sena," said Kolhe. Chandrakant Patil, the BJP's nominee for the Nov 20 poll, opted for one-on-one meetings throughout the day. In evening, he attended a gathering at a marriage hall near Shastrinagar, organised by Mulshi village residents who make up a sizeable number of voters in Kothrud.
BJP also took out rallies in the Gosavi Vasti area of Karvenagar. The party's women workers and Ganesh Mand.