Maharashtra Polls: Prithviraj Chavan sweet-talks rebels into revoking nominations

Disgruntled over not getting a ticket or party’s choice of candidate, rebels from Parvati and Shivajinagar constituencies revoked their nominations on the last day of cancellations yesterday

The last day for cancelling nominations for the upcoming assembly polls turned out to be fruitful for the Congress party, as ex-CM Prithviraj Chavan managed to convince the rebels from contesting elections as independents.

Trouble-shooter: Prithviraj Chavan. File Pic

Jayashree Bagul, wife of deputy mayor Aba Bagul, had filed her nomination against Congress city president Abhay Chajed from Parvati.

Realising the threat Bagul would pose to Chajed, the party made Bagul deputy mayor last month itself. But his wife claimed that sentiments of hundreds of party workers were hurt after the Congress refused a ticket to Bagul. So last week, she filed her candidature as an independent.

A statement released by Bagul read: “Today, he (Chavan) called me and explained how important the election was for the party, and how we are working hard to ensure victory in every seat. He assured me that I would get an opportunity in the future. Besides, senior party leaders like Harshavardhan Patil and Ulhas Pawar also interacted with me. Hence, as a mark of my respect, I convinced my wife and party workers to revoke her candidature.”

Similarly, Congress corporator Anil Jadhav too cancelled his nomination yesterday.

Sitting Congress MLA
from Shivajinagar, Vinayak Nimhan, was facing a serious challenge from former mayor Datta Gaikwad and corporator Datta Bahirat. Nimhan is said to be close to Chavan.

Both the rebels had conveyed their opposition to Nimhan’s nomination last month itself and made it clear that they would refrain from campaigning for him. The duo filed their candidatures as independents after Congress nominated Nimhan.

However, they cancelled their nominations yesterday. Despite several attempts, they remained unavailable for comment.

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