Shankar Jagtap Wins Chinchwad Seat With 1.03 Lakh Votes, Defeats NCP-SP’s Rahul Kalate
Chinchwad, 23rd November 2024: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Shankar Jagtap emerged victorious in the Chinchwad Assembly elections, defeating Nationalist Congress Party–Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP) candidate Rahul Kalate by an impressive margin of 1.03 lakh votes.
The election, initially expected to be a tightly contested battle, turned into a one-sided affair. Despite Kalate’s campaign being bolstered by the support of Shirur MP Dr. Amol Kolhe and veteran leader Sharad Pawar, Shankar Jagtap, with the backing of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, secured a resounding win.
Chinchwad, the largest constituency in Maharashtra with 6.43 lakh registered voters, recorded a voter turnout of 56.73%. Both candidates were contesting to become first-time MLAs, making the turnout figures less indicative of the final outcome.
The political scenario in Chinchwad saw a significant shift after the death of BJP MLA Laxman Jagtap. In the by-elections held last year, Laxman’s wife, Ashwini Jagtap, was elected as the MLA. Initially, it was speculated that Shankar Jagtap, Laxman’s brother, would face his sister-in-law in this election. However, Ashwini Jagtap chose to step aside and fully supported Shankar’s candidature.
Despite internal opposition from Mahayuti aspirants and accusations of nepotism due to his limited political experience, Shankar Jagtap managed to overcome these challenges. His decisive victory highlights the BJP’s stronghold in the constituency and marks a significant moment in Chinchwad’s political landscape.
