NCP Names Sunil Tingre as Vadgaonsheri Candidate Despite Controversy and BJP Opposition
NCP Names Sunil Tingre as Vadgaonsheri Candidate Despite Controversy and BJP Opposition
In a strategic move for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Ajit Pawar, has named sitting MLA Sunil Tingre as its candidate for the Vadgaonsheri seat in Pune. The announcement, which came as part of NCP’s second candidate list, was met with opposition from the local BJP unit, with former BJP MLA Jagdish Mulik openly expressing dissatisfaction. Mulik, who was aiming to contest the seat, threatened that local BJP workers might not support Tingre’s campaign.
Tingre, a former Shiv Sena corporator who switched to the NCP before defeating Mulik in 2019, faces allegations related to the controversial Pune Porsche hit-and-run case. In this incident, two software engineers tragically lost their lives, and Tingre allegedly intervened at the local police station when the accused were taken into custody, a point acknowledged in the police’s inquiry.
Adding to the tension, Sharad Pawar, the leader of the rival NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction, recently criticized Tingre, remarking that it was “shameful for a legislator to aid those responsible for killing innocent people instead of supporting the community.”
In addition to Tingre’s nomination, NCP’s latest list includes several notable candidates, such as Zeeshan Siddique from Bandra East, former BJP MP Sanjaykaka Jagtap from Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal, and former BJP leader Nishikant Patil from Islampur. Each of these candidates brings unique experience and influence, marking a significant step for the party in its election strategy.
