1 week Ago By Alim Shaikh
Pune: The NCP MLA from Pimpri, Anna Bansode , was appointed as the deputy speaker of the Maharashtra assembly on Wednesday. He was elected unopposed as the Maha Vikas Aghadi did not field their candidate for the election. A staunch loyalist of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar , Bansode once ran a paan shop in Pimpri Chinchwad.
It may be noted that in 2019, when Ajit Pawar rebelled against the then-united NCP to form govt with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis — which lasted for 80 hours — Bansode was the only MLA who stood by him until the end. Even after all other MLAs returned to Sharad Pawar's camp, Bansode remained with Ajit Pawar. Earlier that year, Ajit Pawar defied party leadership to give Bansode the assembly election ticket, despite NCP having already announced another candidate for the Pimpri seat.
Bansode is a three-term MLA from Pimpri constituency, which is reserved for scheduled caste candidates. He started his political career in 1997 as a corporator in Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and was later appointed chairman of the standing committee. In 2009, he became MLA for the first time.
Since then, he has contested four assembly elections, winning three. Bansode is known as a politician who rarely speaks at the assembly or public rallies. This has also led to criticism from local functionaries — even from his own party — and some objected to giving him a ticket in the recently held state elections.
However, NCP nominated him, and he ended up winning. Observers see Bansode's latest appointment as an attempt by Ajit Pawar to pacify NCP office-bearers in Pimpri Chinchwad, who have long complained about being overlooked for important roles. The party workers had claimed that they were not given opportunities for MLC elections or appointments at state-run corporations.
Pimpri Chinchwad, once considered Ajit Pawar's stronghold, is likely to go for municipal elections later this year, and the NCP leader is keen on regaining control. Bansode's appointment also marks the first time a Pimpri Chinchwad party worker has secured a significant political position, as the city has been awaiting ministerial representation for over two decades. Yogesh Behl, city president of NCP's Pimpri Chinchwad unit, told TOI, "Bansode's position will help the party expand its wings to other assembly constituencies, where BJP is in a stronger position, particularly before the civic elections.
Party workers will no longer have to reach Ajit Pawar for all kinds of work, but they can now also get it done through Bansode, ultimately giving a boost to the city unit.".
