3 days Ago
Pune: The uncle-versus-nephew electoral battle is no longer restricted to Baramati. Similar fights are now playing out on the Georai, Beed, and also Mahim, poll pitches. For the first time in Beed constituency, two nephews will contest against their uncle.
Former PWD minister Jaydatta Kshirsagar is an independent candidate, while his nephews, Yogesh Kshirsagar and Sandeep Kshirsagar, are his challengers from NCP and NCP (SCP), respectively. In Georai constituency of Beed, the contest is between Badamrao Pandit of Shiv Sena (UBT) and his nephew, Vijaysinh Pandit, who is contesting on an NCP ticket. MNS chief Raj Thackeray's son Amit, who is making his electoral debut in Mahim this assembly election, is set to take on Mahesh Sawant fielded by his uncle and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.
In Baramati, deputy chief minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar is being challenged by nephew Yugendra, who is making a poll debut as NCP (SCP) candidate. Yugendra admitted that the fight against his uncle was a challenge, but he was not worried. "Baramati has always backed Sharad Pawar.
I am confident of victory because every time he [Ajit Pawar] won, it was because of Pawar saheb's backing," Yugendra told TOI. This is the second electoral contest between two members of the politically influential Pawar family in their bastion of Baramati in Pune district in the last six months. In May, Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule of NCP (SCP) fought Lok Sabha elections against Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra (NCP), and defeated her.
In Mahim, the contest will be a test of dominance in a triangular fight with Shiv Sena's sitting MLA Sada Sarvankar also in the fray. The constituency holds immense importance to the Thackerays since Shiv Sena in 1966 and MNS in 2006 were instituted here. With important landmarks such as Siddhivinayak Temple, Sena Bhavan, and Shivaji Park, all within the constituency, voters have always been loyal to Sena.
Amit told TOI, "Even before my nomination, whenever I walked on the streets, people would come to me with their problems. I have good rapport with voters in my constituency, and am confident of their support as I reach out to them with our party." Once a stronghold of undivided NCP, Beed constituency is witnessing a fierce contest with four members of ex-minister Jaydatta Kshirsagar's family in the poll fray.
They are Kshirsagar senior, his two nephews—Sandeep and Yogesh—and Sandeep's wife Neha (also independent)..
