Shivtare gets CM’s backing in Purandar as Mahayuti candidate

Pune: Amidst a 'friendly contest' between Mahayuti partners NCP-Shiv Sena for the Purandar seat, chief minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said that Shiv Sena candidate Vijay Shivtare is the only official candidate of the alliance. Shinde held a campaign rally in support of Shivtare in Saswad area for the Purandar seat. It is one of the seats where Ajit Pawar-led NCP has also fielded a candidate.

While it is considered a friendly fight, Shinde on Friday claimed that some confusion is being created by 'others' against his party's candidate. "Some people are involved in creating confusion, but the candidate with the 'bow and arrow' symbol is the only official candidate for Purandar. Many opponents are desperate to defeat Shivtare, but the 'bow and arrow' of Shiv Sena will penetrate the ‘chakravyuv' (an battle formation) set up for him," Shinde said.



Shivtare is considered a political rival of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. During the Lok Sabha election in May, he had opposed Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra's nomination for the Baramati seat as the Mahayuti candidate. After several rounds of meetings, Shinde assured him of a ticket for the Purandar seat, after which he supported her.

While Shivtare was nominated by Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar has also fielded his candidate from the same seat. He was to hold a rally in support of the NCP candidate last week, but he cancelled it at the last moment. Shinde, on the other hand, said that he has fulfilled his promise to Shivtare.

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