MP Suresh Kalmadi wants the Congress to field his protégé for the Pune Lok Sabha seat; otherwise he would contest as an Independent against the Shiv Sena-BJP combine.
Mr Kalmadi, who has been suspended from the party against the backdrop of the Commonwealth Games controversy, is still a force to reckon with. He may not win as an Independent but he can ensure the Congress’ defeat in this key seat, said Congress insiders.
The AICC screening committee for Maharashtra headed by Union minister Mallikarjun Kharge is said to undecided as of now on whether sitting Lok Sabha members should be renominated or fresh faces should be fielded on some seats.
While the Congress-NCP combine has not finalised a seat-sharing arrangement for the general election in Maharashtra so far, it is unsure of how urban people would vote this time as poll opinion polls are predicting a setback for the ruling partners.
The Pune seat is with the Congress as per the current seat-sharing arrangement. Earlier, it was represented by veteran leader, the late V.N. Gadgil.
The Congress can field anybody who is a resourceful leader but whether he or she can win against the “grand alliance” of the Shiv Sena, BJP, RPI(A) and Swabhimani Paksha is another question.
A BJP strategist on Thursday said joining of the RPI led by Ramdas Athawale and Raju Shetti of the Swabhimani Paksha would increase the vote share by five per cent of the saffron combine.
The Lok Sabha elections in Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Kalyan, Nashik, Nagpur and Aurangabad — the urban cities — would be interesting this time.
Union minister A.K. Antony, who is heading the AICC committee on pre-poll alliances, is expected to have a meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar the next week.
While the NCP sources said the current seat-sharing formula would continue. Accordingly, the Congress would contest 26 seats and the NCP would fight 22 seats.