Dummy Candidates Reflect Intensity Of Race In Parvati Between Sitting MLA And Ashwini Kadam
The once-Congress bastion and currently the BJP-held Parvati constituency is bracing for an unpredictable future, which can only be cleared by November 23 when the result is declared for the elections to the 288-member state assembly. As the BJP renominated sitting MLA Madhuri Misal as a Mahayuti candidate, the NCP led by Sharad Pawar fielded Ashwini Kadam as a MVA nominee.
During the 2019 assembly elections, BJP’s Madhuri Misal defeated Ashwini Kadam, the leader of the then undivided NCP. Madhuri Misal has been representing the constituency more than the past 15 years since 2009 as a BJP legislator.
Read Also: As Ajay Choudhari Eyes Hattrick From Shivadi, MNS’s Bala Nandgaonkar Aims For A Come Back
Notably, there had been tussles both in MVA and Mahayuti over the candidature from the Parvati constituency, with each party in MVA expecting tickets from the seats. There was also some disappointment over the continued nomination of the sitting MLA in the ruling alliance in the state. Other than the NCPP’s Ashwini Kadam, Congress’ Ulhas alias Aba Bagul and members of the Shiv Sena (UBT) also had an eye on the constituency. However, the alliance had finally reached a consensus to field the NCP SP leader.
Interestingly, with the sitting BJP MLA contesting against the opposition MVA candidate Ashwini Kadam, the rival group has played some strategic electoral tactics by making persons with the same name file nominations from the constituency to gimmick the voters. Taking the race an interesting turn, there were at least three candidates with the same name as Ashwini Kadam vying for votes in Parvati.
Responding to the rival party’s’ tactic, the official candidate of the NCP, Ashwini Kadam, said that the opposition is resorting to dirty politics by fielding dummy candidates from the constituency. She further noted that the tactics reflect the their “lack of confidence in their own record,” while urging voters to carefully read her name and symbol before casting the votes.
It is noteworthy to note that the sitting MLA has been facing anti-incumbency even from within the party, which reflected in the tussle with her candidature earlier.
