Shiv Sena’s Ravindra Dhangekar meets Ajit Pawar, denies switching parties; says ‘Shinde to decide on alliance in Pune’
Dhangekar met Ajit Pawar amid speculation that he would switch parties. When his son was asked about the ticket discount, he refused to switch parties and said “Dhanush-Baan” (bow and arrow), referring to Shiv Sena’s election symbol.
Referring to the issue of alliance with NCP, he told reporters that Deputy CM Eknath Shinde will decide.
“Party workers wanted to meet Ajit Pawar. There was no meeting regarding any alliance. Eknath Shinde will discuss the alliance. He will decide this,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar made the announcement on Monday after Pimpri-Chinchwad, uncle-nephew duo of Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar joined hands for Pune civic elections.
Speaking to reporters, Rohit Pawar said that both sides will compete on their own symbols.
Interestingly, NCP-SCP patriarch Sharad Pawar was not involved in the decision-making process for the alliance and MP Supriya Sule had a meeting with party workers in Pune, he said. Rohit Pawar said, “After talking to all the party workers, Supriya Sule also interacted with the workers from Pune. Later, discussions were held with the workers from Pimpri-Chinchwad. This is a struggle of the workers and their election. Therefore, after listening to them, understanding their views and concerns, it was decided that both the NCP factions will contest the elections together in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. But both the parties will contest on their own symbols.”
“This decision was taken only for Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad and that too after listening to the local workers and with their consent. Pawar Saheb is not involved in this entire decision-making process. Such senior leaders have never directly participated in the municipal corporation elections. He said only the views of those who fought for us should be listened to and understood and the decisions should be made based on the decisions of the workers. That is why this alliance was formed in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad,” he added.
Election officials said 694 nomination papers were submitted in a single day for the PMC polls on Monday. This takes the total number of nominations made in 15 Returning Officer offices in the city till Monday to 743.
PMC will go into voting for local body elections along with 28 other municipal corporations on January 15 and the votes will be counted on January 16.
