Pimpri-Chinchwad: The longstanding feud between Shrirang Barne and Laxman Jagtap in Maval constituency has intensified with the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena say if this conflict between the two continues, it is definitely going to help Parth Pawar, the first-time candidate from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Parth is the son of Ajit Pawar, former chief minister of Maharashtra.
A joint meeting between the Sena and the BJP was held on Tuesday for Maval constituency. Jagtap was present initially, at the condolence meeting for the late chief minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar, but afterwards, he vanished and his cellphone remained switched off.
The guardian minister for Pune, Girish Bapat, Dr Neelam Gorhe, Barne, Members of Parliament and legislators of Pimpri, Chinchwad and Maval held a joint meeting. Jagtap’s absence from the meeting was a strong indication of his rejecting Barne’s candidature.
Barne is the second Shiv Sena MP to be elected from Maval, while Jagtap had joined the BJP. Now, the BJP leaders from Maval have defied the party and demanded Barne not be given a ticket this time. Around 50 to 60 corporators of the BJP from Pimpri-Chinchwad, part of Maval constituency, had signed a memorandum opposing Barne’s candidature.
In fact, a newsletter was circulated during this meeting on Tuesday, wherein Barne was severely criticised for serving the interests of the Nationalist Congress Party more than being an MP. The copies of this newsletter were confiscated and the conflict was brought to the table by Jagtap.
