Jayant Asgaonkar
Because their work had given them a strong connect with their respective electorates, chavan said they were chosen. His father Arun Lad is the sitting MLC from the constituency, having won it as a candidate of the undivided NCP.
We have given chance to candidates who are young, but have lots of experience in their respective fields,” Chavan said. Kolhapur : BJP has picked two new faces from Kolhapur for the Pune division graduates’ and teachers’ constituency MLC elections, overlooking several experienced aspirants. The choice assumes significance as Kolhapur accounts for a large number of graduates and teachers registered to vote in the polls later this month. Smita Jadhav, who runs an NGO and heads a Kolhapur-based media outlet, has been fielded from the graduates’ constituency. She is also pro-vice-chancellor of Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri. For the teachers’ constituency, BJP has chosen Kaustubh Gavde, great-grandson of Bapuji Salunkhe, founder of Swami Vivekanand Shikshan Sanstha. Sharad Lad, chairman of Kranti Sugar Factory, Kundal, was among the prominent aspirants for the graduates’ seat. “I have seen the immense effort Lad and others have made in this constituency. However, once the candidature is declared, we stay firm. All eyes are now on NCP (SP) for its choice against Jadhav in the graduates’ constituency. Pratap alias Bhaiya Mane, a close aide of NCP minister Hasan Mushrif, and Harshada Deshmukh Jadhav, daughter of former bureaucrat Prabhakar Deshmukh, are among the names in contention for the ticket.
Jadhav and Gavde joined BJP at the party office in Pune on Sunday in the presence of state BJP chief Ravindra Chavan.