Poll verdict today, neck & neck at 4 seats
Indian Express: Of the eight Assembly constituencies in the city, results in at least four are difficult to predict. There are no clear favourites in the direct fight between sitting Congress MLA Balasaheb Shivarkar and Shiv Sena candidate Mahadeo Babar in Hadapsar.
Kasba Peth has sitting BJP MLA Girish Bapat being given a run for his money by Rohit Tilak, the youthful face of the Congress even as MNS candidate Ravindra Dhangekar is seen as no pushover.
In Kothrud, Sena candidate Chandrakant Mokate is seen as having a slight edge, but the MNS is betting that its candidate Kiisshor Shinde will open the score for party here.
The other tough fight is in Khadakwasla that is part of the NCP bastion Baramati Lok Sabha constituency where again the MNS has a strong candidate in former Congress leader Ramesh Wanjale. Though NCP is convinced the this stronghold in Baramati Lok Sabha constituency is theirs.
The newly carved out Hadapsar constituency will see a tough fight between seasoned corporator and former deputy mayor Babar and Shivarkar, the latter a three-time MLA from Pune Cantonment constituency before delimitation. With the constituency having a large base of Muslim voters in the Kondhwa area, a majority of who swear allegiance to Babar, the time-tested formula of minorities voting for Congress cannot be taken for granted.
Kasba Peth too has a three-time MLA in Bapat but it is no cakewalk this time as both Tilak and and Dhangekar have the potential to spoil his party. Dhangekar is seen by many as having the capacity to make Bapat’s journey to the Vidhan Sabha difficult. Tilak, a young face of Congress had campaigned vigorously in this saffron bastion.
Another saffron base, the Kothrud constituency, has Sena’s strongman Mokate struggling to retain his hold as it is the MNS that is mounting a big challenge through youthful Shinde. In a significant pre-poll development, the NCP had managed to rope in senior BJP leader Anna Joshi with the hope of swinging the saffron votes in its favour. Former Congressman Mankar too is considered a dark horse due to his clout in the constituency .
Dangat of the NCP has an upper hand in Khadakwasla. But it is facing a serious challenge from Congressman turned MNS candidate Wanjale.
More articles by The Desk
- Actor Pankaj Jha will be holding his first solo exhibition 'No Mind’s Creation' in the city - March 17th, 2010
- IPL merchandise hit stores across the city - March 17th, 2010
- Cummins plans to reserve 30% posts for women - March 17th, 2010
- Scorpions are passion for Zoology student Aamod Zambre - March 17th, 2010
- New local job website for Pune - March 17th, 2010
