PUNE: Finally, 31 candidates are fighting for Pune constituency in the Lok Sabha elections as 12 candidates withdrew from the total of 43 candidates on Monday, the last day for withdrawing nominations.
For Baramati constituency, it will be a battle of 18 candidates as seven of them withdrew from the list of 25 candidates.
Pune constituency will witness a fierce battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Girish Bapat, who will be fighting to retain the Pune constituency for BJP. Mohan Joshi of Indian National Congress would try to regain Pune constituency,, which was once a Congress bastion.
Uttam Pandurang Shinde of Bahujan Samaj Party is also one of the leading contenders for Pune constituency. There are 13 candidates of registered political parties other than the recognised national and state political parties and 15 independent candidates from Pune.
Anand Prakash Vanjape, a businessman and resident of Kothrud, who is an independent candidate from Pune said, “Pune city is suffering from issues like pollution and traffic which are the concerns of common citizens but it is not on the agenda of any political party. I want to raise the concerns of Puneites like traffic and pollution in Parliament so that it gets addressed and this Lok Sabha election is one of the platforms to do the same. We need a healthy city with healthy people and local issues to be heard and resolved. I wish to do the same if elected to power.”
Rajesh Agarwal, a civil engineer by profession, contesting on behalf of Hamari Apni Party, said, “Our vision is to transform Pune into Paris by 2030 and want to address local issues like traffic and public infrastructure. There should be sustainable public transport for local people. We would like to reduce the load of Pune railway station and encourage battery operated vehicles. We would like to make Laxmi Road and MG Road as no vehicle zones and also address water issues which Pune is suffering from.”
Ramesh Devaram Dharmavat of People’s Union Party which registered three years ago with helmet as symbol said, “Our agenda is that we are opposing smart city as it is just a way of making contractors rich. We are also opposing the helmet compulsion as it is creating problems like even if you have to go for a short distance you have to wear a helmet or else the police will fine you.”
In Baramati constituency, sitting MP Supriya Sule of Nationalist Congress Party, Kanchan Rahul Kul of Bharatiya Janata Party and Mangesh Nilkanth Vanshiv of Bahujan Samaj Party will be contesting Lok Sabha Elections 2019. There are five candidates of registered political parties other than recognised national and state political parties and ten independent candidates fighting from Baramati constituency.
