As this Lok Sabha constituency prepares for a three-way fight between sitting BJP MP and Mahayuti candidate Sanjaykaka Patil, Congress rebel and Independent candidate Vishal Patil and Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate Chandrahar Patil, residents feel that the real fight is between the incumbent and the renegade. mid-day learnt that Sanjaykaka Patil and Vishal Patil, the grandson of the late Chief Minister Vasant Dada Patil, are more popular among the voters than the two-time Maharashtra Kesari winner Chandrahar Patil.

Locals told this reporter that the people were unhappy with Congress for leaving this seat with the Thackeray faction, ignoring Vishal Patil, who was interested in contesting on a Congress ticket. Vivek Pawar, a local, said, “We are angry with Sena (UBT) for declaring Chandrahar Patil the MVA candidate despite knowing that Vishal Dada is popular among the people. I feel the vote will be split between Chandrahar and Vishal Dada, which might help the BJP candidate.”