By Tejas
Pune, October 28, 2024: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) announced its third list of nine candidates yesterday, finalising nominees for the Bhosari and Chinchwad assembly constituencies in Pune district. This development sets up an anticipated head-to-head contest between the BJP’s sitting MLA Mahesh Landge and NCP (SP) candidate Ajit Gavhane in Bhosari.
In a surprising twist, former NCP MLA Vilas Lande has pledged his support for Gavhane, vowing to actively campaign for all three Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates in Pimpri Chinchwad. Lande’s commitment to rally behind the MVA in Bhosari, Pimpri, and Chinchwad is seen as a significant setback for Mahayuti, especially considering his history with the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) and his influential presence in Bhosari.
Vilas Lande, a two-time MLA, first won his seat from the Haveli assembly constituency in 2004 before representing the newly formed Bhosari constituency in 2009. However, in both 2014 and 2019, he lost to Mahesh Landge, the current BJP MLA from Bhosari. Although he remained with Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction following the party’s 2023 split, tensions arose, especially after Lande reportedly did not receive a ticket for the Shirur constituency. Recently, rumours suggested Lande might realign with Sharad Pawar’s NCP, fuelled by meetings between the two, including one held in Pune.
Today, during Ajit Gavhane’s nomination filing, Lande confirmed his allegiance to the MVA, emphasising his intention to help secure substantial victories for its candidates in the region. This move is considered a blow to Mahayuti in Bhosari, with the NCP (SP) losing yet another strong leader in the constituency after Gavhane’s defection following the Lok Sabha results.
It is also reported that Lande had been advocating for his son-in-law, Sudhir Mungse, to be fielded as a candidate for the Khed-Alandi constituency. Although the NCP (SP) has not yet announced a candidate for this assembly seat, Mahayuti has confirmed that sitting MLA Dilip Mohite-Patil will contest from the constituency. Earlier, Mohite-Patil accused Lande of betrayal when Lande allegedly worked against him and played a role in Gavhane’s induction into the NCP (SP) party.
Today, Ajit Gavhane filed a nomination paper from Bhosari. He will take on the BJP’s Mahesh Landge, who will seek to win the assembly for the third time.
