Pune: Water availability and uneven development remain a major issue among voters in 10 constituencies in Pune rural , which is set to witness the NCP versus NCP battle in the Nov 20 assembly election . Of the 10 seats spread across Pune rural, deputy CM Ajit Pawar-led NCP holds an edge with six MLAs in his favour. Among the rest, two are with Congress, and one each with NCP (SCP) and BJP.
Though NCP (SCP) holds only one seat, the party is betting on the combined strength of MVA to defeat Ajit Pawar candidates here. BJP politician and former MLA Harshavardhan Patil recently joined NCP (SCP), while another former MLA from Daund, Ramesh Thorat, is likely to enter Sharad Pawar's camp soon. Political observers said it would be interesting to see which way the voters would sway the splits in NCP and Shiv Sena.
With leaders like Ajit Pawar and Dilip Walse Patil, who have been undefeated from their respective constituencies for over 30-35 years, respectively, the contest for NCP in Pune rural has become a prestige battle, particularly after the splits. Both politicians have refrained from criticising Sharad Pawar, considering the sympathy wave for the 83-year-old politician after NCP (SCP) managed to win more seats in the Lok Sabha election. Leopard attacks a concern in Junnar & Ambegaon The Junnar and Ambegaon assembly constituencies, both represented by NCP MLAs Atul Benke and Dilip Walse Patil, have been facing a major human-animal conflict.
At least seven people have lost their .