Maharashtra: Prithviraj Chavan not to contest Satara Lok Sabha by-election

Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan will not contest against Udayanraje Bhosale, who recently joined BJP, in the by-election for Satara constituency after the Nationalist Congress Party decided not to leave its claim for Chavan.

This has put a brake on Chavan's renewed efforts to shift to national politics after nine years.

Chavan's nomination is believed to have been strongly opposed by a section of NCP leaders especially after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered offence in connection with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam last week. NCP has targeted Chavan after the MSCB board of directors was superseded way back in May 2011 when he was the state chief minister. NCP has openly criticised Chavan and alleged him that it was done to checkmate NCP.

NCP is expected to field former MP and former Sikkim Governor Shrinivas Patil against Udayanraje Bhosale. Patil is NCP chief Sharad Pawar's close confidant.

Chavan will now seek re-election from the Karhad South assembly seat. He had already geared up to increase outreach with voters and is busy holding interactive sessions with the booth level workers. Congress is expected to announce his candidature in Karhad South in a day or two. BJP is expected to put up Atul Bhosale against Chavan.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar had personally called Chavan with a proposal to contest from Satara. Pawar also dialed Congress party president Sonia Gandhi to inform that his party is prepared to leave its claim on Satara seat for Chavan. A series of meetings took place between Chavan with Pawar and his party leaders. Further, Chavan also met Gandhi who also gave him a green signal last week.

Speaking to DNA Chavan said, "It is true that Pawar had offered me to contest Satara by-election. I met him and his party leaders and also held talks with Congress president. I had represented the erstwhile Karhad seat which is now Satara.'' However, he revealed that now NCP has decided to field its nominee in Satara for Lok Sabha by-election so he will focus on his re-election from Karhad South assembly segment.

Chavan, who had faced defeat from NCP nominee Shrinivas Patil in the erstwhile Karhad Lok Sabha constituency in 1999, was insisting that NCP should not ditch him but wholeheartedly support him in the by-election in view of the limited time for campaigning. Chavan, who is currently the legislator from the Karhad South, initially was reluctant but later shown his desire to take a plunge provided NCP supports him in Wai, Koregaon, and Satara constituencies where he has limited reach.

Pawar's offer to Chavan had come against the backdrop of the defection of Udayanraje Bhosale and party legislator from Satara Shivendraraje Bhosale to BJP. NCP is stung by betrayl by their leaders. Satara district has been NCP's stronghold since 1999 but now due to infighting, the party organisation has been adversely impacted.