Three-Way Contest Looms in Maharashtra’s Sangli Lok Sabha Seat
Maharashtra’s Sangli Lok Sabha constituency is poised for a three-way battle as Vishal Patil, a Congress leader, has declined to withdraw his nomination, defying his party’s directive. Monday marked the deadline for withdrawing nominations for the election scheduled on May 7.
A Congress spokesperson confirmed to The Indian Express that Vishal Patil had refused to withdraw his nomination despite the party’s request. The party is considering appropriate disciplinary action, including possible expulsion.
Patil’s decision has set the stage for a three-cornered contest involving incumbent MP Sanjaykaka Patil of the BJP and Chandrahar Patil of the Shiv Sena (UBT), a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. The Congress is also part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition.
The Congress rank and file, led by MLA Vishwajeet Kadam, had pushed for the party to contest the polls from Sangli, historically a Congress stronghold. However, the party lost the seat twice in a row during the ‘Modi wave.’ Kadam’s efforts to convince the Shiv Sena (UBT) to cede the seat to the Congress proved futile.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) refused to withdraw its candidate, and its chief, Uddhav Thackeray, demanded action against Patil’s rebellion. However, the Sena has promised to ensure ‘justice’ for Patil if he withdraws. Patil is the grandson of former chief minister Vasantdada Patil.
Despite being a popular wrestler in Sangli, the Congress has refrained from actively campaigning for Chandrahar Patil. He had offered to withdraw his candidacy if the Congress publicly acknowledged its unwillingness to have a farmer’s son contest the election.
