2 weeks Ago By Anurag Bende
Pune: Both factions of Shiv Sena are trying to regain lost ground in Pune city though neither has a single MLA in its eight constituencies. While Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has trained its sights on Hadapsar , Khadakwasla, and Wadgaon Sheri, Uddhav Thackeray 's faction is keen on Khadakwasla and Kothrud assembly seats. In the 2009 assembly polls, an undivided Shiv Sena had two MLAs, including Chandrakant Mokate from Kothrud and Mahadev Babar from Hadapsar.
But, the party failed to retain either seat. Shiv Sena's Pune unit has sought Hadapsar, Wadgaon Sheri, and Khadakwasla seats but lacks strong candidates in Wadgaon Sheri and Khadakwasla. Its best bet is in Hadapsar where its chief Pramod alias Nana Bhangire wants to contest.
Bhangire said, "Despite being a dominant party, we do not have a single MLA from Pune city. We want to regain lost ground by contesting the polls. I have requested chief minister Eknath Shinde to consider my candidature for Hadapsar as the party has a strong base here.
" UBT's Vasant More is hoping for a ticket from Khadakwasla. He said, "I have already submitted a detailed report of the constituency to the party seniors to show them that the party has bright chances of winning here. I have started visiting the constituency.
I am confident that Uddhav Thackeray will get the seat for our party.".
