Pune: Over 15 former corporators , ex-mayors, deputy mayors, and even former MLAs across party lines are among the aspirants for assembly poll tickets in eight seats in Pune, even as their parties are about to finalise candidatures. The number of aspirants has gone up this time after a split in Shiv Sena and NCP . Meanwhile, in BJP , many former corporators are looking for a "bigger role" at the state level and eyeing an entry to the state assembly.
The city has eight assembly seats; of these, five seats are with BJP, two with NCP, and one with Congress. All sitting MLAs from the city expect re-nomination but face a challenge from aspirants. Among the former MLAs looking for a ticket are former Wadgaon Sheri MLA Bapu Pathare, ex-MLA from Kothrud Chandrakant Mokate, former Congress MLA Ramesh Bagwe, Shiv Sena's Mahadev Babar, and BJP's Jagdish Mulik.
Pathare lost the 2014 election, while Babar faced defeat in the 2019 polls. Bagwe was defeated in the last two consecutive elections by BJP MLAs from Pune Cantonment, while Mulik lost the 2019 election to NCP's Sunil Tingre from Wadgaon Sheri. However, all these leaders hold strong backing from voters and workers within their areas.
Sources from the prominent parties said a significant number of aspirants will pose a stiff challenge before the candidates as they will have to pacify the aspirants. A senior leader from BJP said, "We have received many applications; however, the candidature will be finalised on the basis of merit and.