Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is considering launching the ‘third generation’ of the Pawar family from the Maval Lok Sabha constituency in Pune district. There is strong speculation that of Parth, the son of Ajit Pawar and the grandson of party chief Sharad Pawar is a possible candidate for the Maval LS and may challenge Shrirang Barne, the sitting Member of Parliament of the Shiv Sena.
Meanwhile, the NCP sources claimed the party had decided to let its five sitting MPs run again. The NCP sources claimed even though Parth would be a newcomer to politics, the entry of another Pawar would boost party morale considerably. Meanwhile, the party’s internal survey on LS results, claimed it will retain five seats and in addition, gain five more in the forthcoming polls.
At present, Supriya Sule (Baramati), Dhananjay Mahadik (Kolhapur), Udayan Raje Bhosale (Satara), Vijaysinh Mohite Patil (Madha in Solapur) and Madhukar Kukde (Gondia-Bhandara) represent the party in the Lok Sabha. The NCP president, Sharad Pawar, had recently reviewed the constituencies where the party is fielding field candidates and finalised names. Sunil Tatkare will be the candidate from Raigad, former minister Rajendra Shingne will run from Buldhana, Vilas Lande is possible candidate from Shirur (Pune) constituency and Rana Jagjit Singh for the Osmanabad seat.
“The survey shows a better future for the party. We can win at least ten seats in the 2019 polls. We have five sitting MPs, so we will gain five more seats. Voters are upset with Modi and the Fadnavis government and that will be reflected in the elections,” said Dhananjay Munde, the leader of the opposition in the council.
