Pune: From not contesting a single seat of the eight in Pune in the 2019 assembly poll, the Shiv Sena (UBT) is keen to contest at least three in Pune this time, including Kothrud , where it expects a straight fight against the BJP . After Uddhav Thackeray's faction of the Sena that is in the MVA has staked claims to Kothrud, Hadapsar and Khadakwasla constituencies. Sources from Sena (UBT) said that their party has a strong presence in all three constituencies.
The party's senior leader Chandrakant Mokate was an MLA from the Kothrud area while the Hadapsar seat was represented by senior leader Mahadev Babar in 2014. Both are ready to contest from Kothrud and Hadapsar respectively, sources said. According to the party's city unit chief Sanjay More, Sena (UBT)'s city unit has remained intact even after a split.
"Most former corporators and a large number of workers are with us. The party has held meeting in all assembly seats in Pune. We have conveyed our willingness to fight on the maximum seats in Pune.
Party workers are confident of a positive outcome in seat sharing," More said. Besides Babar and Mokate, former MNS leader Vasant More, who joined Sena (UBT) a few months ago, is among the frontrunners for the Hadapsar seat and former corporator Prithviraj Sutar is hoping for a ticket from Kothrud. More has significant backing in the city's southern parts, while Sutar has a good rapport with citizens of Kothrud.
A senior leader from Sena (UBT) said that the party has always hel.