Pimpri: Vilas Lande may leave Ajit Pawar camp for giving party ticket to Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil

Pimpri: Sources have said that former MLA from Bhosari Vilas Lande would leave the Ajit Pawar camp as the latter did not consider his name for the Shirur Lok Sabha poll. Lande may join the Sharad Pawar faction. This is likely to damage the NCP (AP) prospects in Shirur.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) first announced Dr Amol Kolhe as their candidate in Shirur. However, the Maha Yuti remained undecided for three months whether to allot the seat to the Shiv Sena (BT), the NCP (AP) or the BJP. The names of three potential candidates were being discussed. They were Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil from Shiv Sena (BT), Mahesh Landge from the BJP and Vilas Lande from the NCP (AP).

It was Lande’s demand that if the seat is allotted to NCP (AP), anyone from the party could be fielded. He had also secured support of Mahesh Landge for the Lok Sabha polls. After many rounds of talks, the seat was given to the NCP (AP) but Adhalrao Patil joined the NCP (AP) and got the ticket. This disappointed Lande and he remained absent when Adhalrao formally joined the NCP (AP).

Lande is upset as he was denied ticket twice

Vilas Lande’s candidature from Shirur was almost confirmed in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. His posters were raised in the constituency. However, Ajit Pawar introduced Dr Amol Kolhe at the last minute and made him the party’s candidate. However, Lande worked for Dr Kolhe. Now, it was Lande’s turn to demand the party ticket in 2024. However, he was again denied the ticket. Therefore, his supporters are not happy.

To protect the assembly seat

Vilas Lande supported Ajit Pawar after the split in the NCP. He was sure that he would be fielded from Shirur. However, he was disappointed for the second time. The state assembly polls will be held after the Lok Sabha elections. The sitting MLA in Bhosari is Mahesh Landge. This implies that Vilas Lande will not get the ticket from the Maha Yuti. So, he may join the NCP (SP) faction. Land has good equations with Sharad Pawar and NCP (SP) state chief Jayant Patil. Moreover, Lande looks up to Sharad Pawar as his idol. Therefore, people are curious to know which camp Lande may join. There is a buzz in the Shirur constituency that he is likely to join the Sharad Pawar camp. Meanwhile, there is no official word on this.