Pune: Upset at seeing their names missing in the BJP 's first list of candidates for the Nov 20 Maharashtra assembly elections , both incumbent and MLA hopefuls in the district are reaching out to the party brass in Mumbai for a chance to be in the poll ring. Pune district has 21 constituencies and the BJP's first list featured six candidates. A group of former BJP corporators met the state leadership last week, seeking a change in the party's candidature for Khadakwasla constituency currently represented by Bhimrao Tapkir .
After this, an anxious Tapkir reached out to the BJP leadership in Mumbai with a hope for the poll ticket. The meeting, however, did not go down well with the party's city unit. Bala Bhegade, a former minister of state in the BJP's 2014 govt who had contested the assembly polls from Maval in 2019, also went to Mumbai with a hope for a ticket to fight the Nov 20 election.
In 2019, he was defeated by NCP's Sunil Shelke. "Discussions on the political situation in Pune district were held at the meeting. The workers decided to follow the party's orders after the selection of the candidates," he told reporters.
The BJP leadership is yet to take a call on its candidate for Kasba Peth. A senior BJP leader said a significant number of workers are eager to be in the Kasba Peth poll ring. "After the first list was declared, I have spoken to senior party leaders.
The list featuring the candidate for Kasba Peth is expected in a day or two," said Hemant Rasane, who had.
