In U-turn, Shiv Sena leader Vijay Shivtare says won't contest Lok Sabha polls from Baramati
Shiv Sena leader Vijay Shivtare, who had declared that he would contest the Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate from Maharashtra's Baramati constituency, changed his stand on Saturday. The leader of the Eknath Shinde-led party said he won't contest the polls from Baramati in Pune district, which is the political stronghold of NCP founder Sharad Pawar's family, and instead campaign for the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Shivtare's announcement comes amid speculation that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar could be fielded from there as a candidate of the ruling NCP faction.
Sharad Pawar, who now heads the NCP (SP), has already announced the candidature of his daughter and three-term Baramati MP Supriya Sule from the constituency.
The earlier announcement by Shivtare had triggered friction among the NCP and Shiv Sena as the parties along with the BJP are a part of the Mahayuti in the state. The discord became more apparent amid Shivtare's attacks on Ajit Pawar.
Before the announcement, Shivtare met his party workers in Purandar tehsil in Pune district on Saturday.
«I've taken the decision to ensure that the next generation doesn't suffer. I received a call from the OSD (officer on special duty) of Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde and we had a discussion for over two hours,» said Shivtare, a former MLA from Purandar, which comes under the Baramati parliamentary constituency.
«We talked about water supply to Purandar from Gunjwani dam, a new airport at Purandar and the formation of a new 'Bazar
