Pune: Chandrakant Patil Secures Big Win in Kothrud
Pune: Chandrakant Patil Secures Big Win in Kothrud
Maharashtra’s Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Chandrakant Patil, won the Kothrud constituency with a commanding lead of over 80,000 votes. He defeated Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Chandrakant Mokate in what was seen as a straightforward contest.
Patil’s victory was widely expected, especially after Baner-based former corporator Amol Balwadkar withdrew his candidacy. Balwadkar had initially sought the BJP ticket but later announced his support for Patil following discussions with the BJP’s Maharashtra State President, Chandrashekhar Bawankule. This ensured a smooth campaign for Patil.
Kothrud, a BJP stronghold, had 4.31 lakh registered voters, with a voter turnout of 52.18%. The low turnout did not affect the BJP’s chances, as Patil maintained a steady lead throughout the counting process.
Originally from Kolhapur, Patil first contested from Kothrud in 2019. At the time, aspiring candidates like Dr. Medha Manjrekar and Murlidhar Mohol were also in the race. However, Manjrekar was later appointed as a Rajya Sabha MP, and Mohol became the Pune MP and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation.
This time, Patil’s candidacy was uncontested within the party after Balwadkar’s withdrawal, paving the way for an easy win.
Patil’s win further cements Kothrud’s status as a BJP bastion. His consistent outreach and the party’s stronghold in the constituency played a key role in securing the landslide victory.
The result reinforces Patil’s position as a key leader in Maharashtra politics, with his ability to manage challenges within the party and outside contributing to his decisive triumph.
