As Ajay Choudhari Eyes Hattrick From Shivadi, MNS's Bala Nandgaonkar Aims To Come Back
Shivadi in Maharashtra is one of the constituencies that has been looked at by the national media closely as the state nears the assembly elections scheduled for November 20. The constituency grabbed attention due to the infighting in the Shiv Sena (UBT) over the candidature as the party loyalist Sudhir Salvi claimed the stake for the ticket from the seat, but the Sena has retained the sitting MLA Ajay Choudhari as its candidate for another term.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate and two-time MLA’s major rival from the seat is Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)’s senior leader Bala Nandgaonkar. Supported by the opposition Mahayuti alliance, Nandgaonkar has promised several developmental programs. Notably, going against the party and the alliance, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) leader Nana Ambole had filed a nomination from Shivadi, though later withdrew.
While banking on his projects and work records of the past decade, the sitting MLA, Ajay Choudhari, has promised to redevelop Mhada buildings. The MNS rival has also been campaigning on similar lines, adding that it would create open space, digital literacy, and parking facilities.
Like most of the constituencies in Maharashtra, Shivadi constituency also saw a tumultuous five years following the 2019 elections, with several defections and splits of political parties. One of the undivided Shiv Sena’s strongholds, Ajay Chaudhary has been representing the seat since 2014. However, the candidature of the former MNS legislator from the seat is considered to be a huge challenge to the incumbent MLA, especially after the split and the change in the political dynamics.
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During the 2019 assembly elections, Ajay Choudhari retained his seat with a margin of 39337 votes, defeating MNS’s Santosh Raghunath Nalawade and Congress’ Uday Vitthal Phansekar. In 2014, he defeated Bala Nandgaonkar from the MNS by a margin of over 40,000 votes.
The opposition has alleged that the MLA faces anti-incumbency as he left several issues unresolved. As the poll day nears, the campaign has been intensified in Shivadi, reflecting all the political rivalries and the competition between the candidates.
