Challenge to BJP's Gawde in Pune teachers' seat over age planned in court

Political activity has picked up ahead of the Pune graduates' and teachers' constituency elections. For the BJP, Dr Smita Jadhav is campaigning hard in the graduates' constituency, while Kaustubh Gawde has stepped up his campaign in the teachers' constituency. Meetings are being held for both candidates. Senior BJP leaders are also travelling from place to place to campaign and gather the support of various organisations.

Meanwhile, the BJP's difficulties have grown in the teachers' constituency. The Shinde faction had fielded a separate candidate, and now leaders of the opposing side have approached the court against BJP candidate Kaustubh Gawde.

The opponents claim Gawde is 29 years old, while the eligibility to contest this election is 30 years. According to them, his age is recorded as 29 in the voters' list, but in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission he has given his age as 30.

On this basis, a petition will be filed against Gawde in the Kolhapur bench. The petition will seek cancellation of his candidature and a case against him. Gawde has been accused of cheating the Election Commission. New RASP candidate Prof Raghu, alias R. Y. Ghutukade, from the Pune constituency will file the petition.

In the graduates' constituency election, meanwhile, infighting within the Mahayuti has come out in the open in Satara district. NCP minister Makrand Patil and Shiv Sena minister Shambhuraj Desai have so far not clearly backed Mahayuti candidate Smita Jadhav.

Minister Jaykumar Gore and MLA Dhairyashil Kadam did not attend the BJP convention held in Satara. Udayanraje Bhosale was present at the convention but refrained from speaking. For this reason, it is being said that the BJP is caught in a serious bind. There is also confusion among local workers.

It is believed that this lack of coordination and mutual tension within the Mahayuti could directly benefit the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate. All of Maharashtra is watching these political developments.