BJP candidate Kaustubh Gawade, who brings experience in the education sector and the party’s organisational network, will be looking to convert his outreach among teachers into electoral support
Pune : The teachers’ constituency election in the division has emerged as a test of BJP’s organisational strength, incumbent MLC Jayant Asgaonkar’s track record, former MLA Dattatray Sawant’s connection with teachers’ movements, and independent candidate Sachin Sanap’s backing from Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. BJP candidate Kaustubh Gawade, who brings experience in the education sector and the party’s organisational network, will be looking to convert his outreach among teachers into electoral support. However, Shiv Sena’s backing of Sanap presents a direct challenge to Mahayuti alliance’s efforts to consolidate votes.
The constituency covers Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Solapur, with 51,979 registered voters, according to the final electoral roll figures available on Oct 12. The election, scheduled for Oct 23, will test how effectively the candidates have reached teachers across the five districts to address their concerns over service conditions, recruitment, promotions, pension benefits, and growing burden of non-teaching duties. Counting is scheduled for Oct 27.
“My effort will be to work on issues beyond pension-related agitation, focusing on teachers eligibility test (TET) mandates, vacancies, promotions, and administrative workloads,” Sawant noted. A former officer on special duty to industries minister Uday Samant, Sanap said, “I will pursue an independent administrative mechanism for teachers, restoration of old pension scheme, and comprehensive insurance cover for both teaching and non-teaching staff. ” For Gawade, the BJP’s official candidate, the primary challenge is to combine his educational background and institutional experience with the party’s political machinery. However, his institutional experience must translate into a credible plan for influencing state-level policy and securing decisions from the govt. Shiv Sena’s support for Sanap has complicated the Mahayuti equation, raising questions over a possible division of votes While BJP’s organisational strength could help him reach voters. Meanwhile, former MLA Dattatray Sawant is banking on his long association with teachers’ movements, particularly the campaign for restoration of old pension scheme (OPS). His previous experience as an elected representative could help him connect with teachers concerned about retirement security and service conditions. Independent candidate Sachin Sanap gained substantial political backing from Shinde-led Shiv Sena after the party’s initial choice, Mangesh Chivte, withdrew from the contest.