Pune: State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule was in Pune on Friday to do some firefighting. He was here to speak to some aspirants who have staked a claim to some of Pune's eight assembly seats. The BJP does not want a rebellion on its hands ahead of the assembly poll .
Bawankule, who stayed overnight in Pune, held a series of meetings on Thursday and Friday with the party members adamant about contesting the election. In 2019, BJP contested 10 of the 11 seats in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad and managed to win eight. However, this time the equation has changed for the BJP as it now has an alliance with NCP and Shiv Sena.
These partners are also looking to get some of the 11 seats while the BJP members have staked claims to all the 11 seats. While the seat-sharing formula for Mahayuti is yet to be finalised, Bawankule reached Pune to quell disquiet among the party members before the announcement of the candidates. He had a meeting with MLA Ashwini Jagtap and her brother-in-law Shankar Jagtap on Friday.
Both want to contest from Chinchwad seat. After the death of BJP MLA Laxman Jagtap, his wife Ashwini won the bypoll. However, both she and Jagtap's brother have shown interest in contesting.
According to BJP sources, Bawankule has managed to convince Ashwini to withdraw her claim, and the party is now likely to nominate Shankar Jagtap from Chinchwad. In Wadgaon Sheri, former BJP MLA Jagdish Mulik wants a ticket. The seat is currently with NCP MLA Sunil Tingre who is with Ajit.
