By Tejas Navale
Pune, November 2, 2024: As the Maharashtra Assembly election heats up, unexpected drama unfolded in Pune’s Vadgaon Sheri constituency when a second candidate with a similar name—Bapu Pathare—filed his nomination, sparking chaos and allegations of foul play.
In Vadgaon Sheri, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has fielded Sunil Tingre, while the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) selected former MLA Bapusaheb Pathare. However, on the final day for nominations, a surprise entry by an independent candidate named Bapu Baban Pathare caused a stir. The NCP (SP) candidate immediately alleged that the opposition was resorting to deceptive tactics, terming it a “dirty game” designed to confuse voters.
Bapusaheb Pathare, representing the NCP (SP), further accused that the independent candidate Bapu Baban Pathare hails from Shrigonda taluka and claimed irregularities in his nomination form. According to Pathare, the dummy candidate failed to disclose any required financial details, such as loans, bank accounts, or account balances.
Despite these claims, Vadgaon Sheri election officer Sachin Bavaskar confirmed that, after thorough scrutiny, Bapu Baban Pathare’s nomination was deemed valid under election regulations. “As per rules, the independent candidate’s nomination has been accepted,” Bavaskar stated, confirming that two candidates with nearly identical names would compete for the same constituency seat.
On this, Surendra Pathare remarked, “The opposition has already accepted defeat, and these unscrupulous tactics are proof of that.” He argued that the use of a dummy candidate reflected the opposition’s desperation. This has further heightened tensions in an already contentious race of Vadgaon Sheri assembly constituency.
