A DAY after the Bombay High Court directed the Election Commission to hold bye-elections to Pune Lok Sabha seat, both the factions of NCP have staked claim on the seat and in turn are posing a challenge to their respective alliance partners, the BJP and the Congress.
NCP city chief (Ajit Pawar faction) Deepak Mankar, who had expressed his willingness to contest the Pune Lok Sabha bye-election before the split in the NCP, said he was prepared to contest from the seat if the party gives him the opportunity. “I was ready to contest the seat in the past and still eager to contest if the party allows me to do so. The final decision will be taken by party high command,” Mankar said. “If a candidate from any other alliance partner contests the seat, then he would be provided full support as an alliance partner,” he said.
Executive president of city unit of NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar, Pradeep Deshmukh, said the court decision to hold bye-elections immediately is good and all political parties should always be ready for any elections. “We wish to contest the Pune Lok Sabha seat and would approach the party high command with the same,” he said.
Similarly, NCP city chief (Sharad Pawar faction) Prashant Jagtap said, “I have already conveyed my wish to the party leadership to contest Pune Lok Sabha election. If I am given the opportunity, I will contest the seat. The BJP realised that the situation was not in their favour to retain the seat. So they managed to avoid the Pune Lok Sabha bye-election. The BJP has done a sin by keeping the people of constituency without a representation in Lok Sabha and they will face its consequences in the election”.
After the split in NCP, the faction led by Ajit Pawar has joined BJP-led NDA while Sharad Pawar-led faction is in alliance with Congress and Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray.
BJP city chief Dheeraj Ghate said, “The allegations of opposition that BJP influenced the EC is completely false. It is the EC which decides on elections and not any political party. The opposition is making allegations just for the sake of it,” he said, adding the BJP is prepared for elections to Pune Lok Sabha seat whenever it is declared.
“The BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently won Assembly elections in three states. Everyone is aware of the BJP strength which exists everywhere. The BJP will succeed in retaining the Pune Lok Sabha seat if the bye-elections are held immediately,” he said, while ruling out the possibility of giving the seat to alliance partner to contest.
City Congress chief Arvind Shinde said the delay in bye-elections to Pune Lok Sabha seat was due to ruling BJP. “It is unlikely to be held now also as the EC will appeal the order in Supreme Court and general elections will be held in next few months. The Congress has been contesting the Pune Lok Sabha seat right from the beginning and would continue to do so. There is no question of letting the seat to be contested by any other alliance partner,” he added. The Congress has a list of probables since the seat got vacated and they include Shinde, Mohan Joshi, Anant Gadgil and Rohit Tilak.
MNS leader Vasant More, who had expressed desire to contest Pune Lok Sabha bye-election, said the court order is welcome but it is likely to be challenged in the apex court and the election for Pune Lok Sabha seat will be held for next five-year term.