Madhuri Missal, the incumbent Parvati MP and the city’s senior-most BJP legislator, is facing difficulty in getting the party’s nomination from other party leaders who want to foray into state politics. However, Missal is determined to contest the election from the Parvati constituency.
Missal has won three consecutive Assembly elections from Parvati constituency. He was first elected to the Assembly in 2009 and subsequently retained as MP in 2014 and 2019. Prior to that, he was elected as a member of the Pune Municipal Council (PMC).
“I am aware that there are many candidates in the party who are contesting in Parvati constituency. I won when it seemed impossible for the party to win. Later, the party has elected 10 councillors to the PMC from areas in the constituency, taking the number of councillors to 23. When the situation was tough, not many people were contesting, but now, as the situation in the constituency is favourable to the party, many are contesting,” she said.
Missal said he was firm in his intention to contest from Parvati constituency and speculation that he would contest from Kasba constituency was false.
The BJP legislator, who is eyeing to contest the state assembly elections for the fourth time, listed the work he has done in his state assembly constituency, which includes demanding speed-up of slum redevelopment projects and the extension of metro services from Swargate to Katraj and from Khadakwasla to Kharadi via Hadapsar.
Misal is facing challenge from former municipal councillors Srinath Bhimale and Rajendra Shilimkar. Bhimale has begun reaching out to voters through social media, while Shilimkar has put up signboards across Parvati constituency.
“Bhimale is a senior BJP leader with vast experience as a PMC member, assembly speaker and member of various standing committees. He was the campaign chief for the Pune Assembly seat and has proven himself by getting party candidates elected. Hence, the party should give him an opportunity to contest the state assembly elections,” said a supporter of Bhimale.
Another party leader said Shilimkar has a network in the state assembly constituency and is a junior figure who will represent the party at the state level.
© Indian Express Ltd.
First uploaded: 19 July 2024 20:49 IST
