HomePoliticsSuspense over Prithviraj Chavan contesting Satara LS by-poll continues as supporters want...

Suspense over Prithviraj Chavan contesting Satara LS by-poll continues as supporters want him to contest Assembly polls

Pune: Former Chief Minister and senior sitting Congress legislator from Karad South, Prithviraj Chavan on Sunday said he would announce his decision in a day or two or whether he would contest the Satara Lok Sabha by-poll on October 21, or not. His announcement comes even as his supporters strongly urged him to contest the upcoming State Assembly polls, instead of the Lok Sabha by-poll. The former chief minister is being pressed by the top brass of both the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress to contest the Satara Lok Sabha by-election.

Addressing his supporters in Karad, the former chief minister stated that he will come to a decision in one or two days by taking into account your wishes, by respecting the high command’s opinion as well as his own survey. Earlier, his die-hard followers urged him not to contest the Satara by-election and instead contest and win from the Karad South assembly seat. His supporters remarked that Karad does not wish to be indebted to the ‘kindnesses’ of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP State chief Chandrakant Patil.

Chavan addressing party cadres stated that his strong bond with Karad began in 1991. He added that today, our democracy, our Congress party is in danger as the BJP government is out to destroy democracy. Attacking the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, he alleged that the BJP was targeting the opposition by misusing probe agencies or by either buying out opposition leaders and MLAs.

Chavan was a three time Lok Sabha MP from Karad before being elected as MLA from Karad South in the 2014 Assembly polls. According to a close aide of Prithviraj Chavan, the former chief minister would have to be dependent on the NCP for help if he chooses to contest the Satara LS by-poll. Karad South assembly seat is with the Congress at the moment and the district predominantly being an NCP bastion. Furthermore, Chavan has done development work in his assembly constituency and people have immense respect for him as a person.

Meanwhile, state NCP State president Jayant Patil acknowledged Prithviraj Chavan’s reluctance to contest the Satara Lok Sabha by-election. He felt that Chavan and his supporters are not very enthusiastic about him contesting the Lok Sabha by-poll. He added that the NCP is holding discussions with the Congress leaders and will reach a decision soon by Monday afternoon. It may be recalled that NCP chief Sharad Pawar, had recommended Prithviraj Chavan’s name, arguing that he (Pawar) himself was not keen on contesting the Satara LS by-poll.

The by-election to the Satara Lok Sabha constituency has been necessitated due to the resignation of sitting Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP from Satara, Udayanraje Bhosale. He recently quit the NCP and joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that the Satara LS by-polls will also be held on October 21 along with the assembly polls in the state.

Prashant Hamine
Prashant Hamine
News Editor - He has more than 25 years of experience in English journalism. He had worked with DNA, Free Press Journal and Afternoon Dispatch. He covers politics.

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