Pune: Shiv Sena-BJP, MVA To Contest Crucial Kasba, Pimpri Chinchwad Bypolls Tomorrow

The voting for the high stakes bypolls in Pune's Kasba and Chinchwad will begin on Sunday (February 26).

Pic Credit: File Photo

Pune: Campaigning for the Assembly bypolls in Kasba and Chinchwad in Maharashtra's Pune district ended at 6 pm on Friday, with voting set to take place on February 26. The bypolls in Kasba and Chinchwad have been necessitated due to the death of Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs Mukta Tilak and Laxman Jagtap, respectively. On Friday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde held a roadshow for Hemant Rasne in Kasba, with state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, state minister Chandrakant Patil and other leaders from the ruling alliance present.

Exuding confidence of a record win for Rasne, the CM said the poll has been fought by the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance on the agenda of development. He also refuted talk of a communal colour being given to the campaign, instead alleging a Congress corporator made objectionable remarks in a meeting addressed by NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

भाजपमधले सगळेच लोक आवडण्यासारखे आहेत असे मला वाटत नाही. इतकी वर्षे मी भाजपवाल्यांना बघत आहे, त्यांना युतीत यावे असे वाटत नाही. त्यामुळे माझ्याबाबत होणारी विधाने ही अतिशय पोरकट आहेत. — Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) February 24, 2023

"We are contesting this election on the agenda of development and we will win. People just want development and they do not like this kind of (communal) narrative," Shinde said.

#पुणे शहरातील #कसबा विधानसभा क्षेत्रात प्रचाराच्या निमित्ताने जनतेशी संवाद साधत असताना एका आठवणीतील हळवा क्षण जिवंत झाले. पुण्यातील जुने आणि ज्येष्ठ शिवसैनिक गुलाबराव कोंडीबा ढवळे यांची आज त्यांच्या निवासस्थानी जाऊन भेट घेऊन त्यांची आस्थेने विचारपूस केली. pic.twitter.com/wdolUQGFqm

— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) February 24, 2023

Meanwhile, a statement from the district administration said, "Political leaders who have come from outside and who are not the voters of these constituencies should not remain in the poll-bound constituencies. They must leave it once the deadline for campaigning ends."

Action would be taken against those violating the model code of conduct, the statement warned.

The fight is between Rasne and Maha Vikas Aghadi's Ravindra Dhangekar in Kasba, while in Chinchwad the candidates are the ruling alliance's Ashwini Jagtap and the opposition's Nana Kate.