6 BJP aspirants file their nominations for Nashik MLC polls

Nashik: Although the BJP and Shiv Sena are yet to decide who among them will contest the Nashik MLC seat representing Mahayuti, functionaries from both parties have filed their nominations, expecting the final decision to swing in their favor.Six aspirants from BJP are in the fray and have filed their forms under the party name as well as independents, though none of them have received the mandatory A-B nomination forms from the party high command.“There are 36 candidates in fray and six of them are from BJP. The prominent names include Ganesh Gite, a former Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) standing committee chairman from the BJP, who later rebelled during the assembly elections but subsequently rejoined the party,” a senior party leader said.Gite, who filed his nomination forms, claimed, “I have had discussions with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, water resources department (WRD) minister Girish Mahajan and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan. All of them assured me that I would be given a chance to contest the election. Therefore, I have filed my nomination papers.”BJP office-bearers, however, have refused to comment on who the party nominee will be if the party decides to contest the election. “We will have to wait for the decision on Monday. We hope the picture will be clear by 2pm. You never know we may have a completely different candidate as well,” a party functionary said.Similarly, candidates from the Shiv Sena and NCP — both partners in Mahayuti — have also filed their nominations. Vishnu Mhaisdhune from the NCP and Vijay Karanjkar from the Sena have submitted their papers.“The contest is primarily between the Sena and BJP. The NCP is not a stakeholder for this specific seat in Nashik. It is likely that the BJP will not give up its claim on the seat to the Shiv Sena, especially against the backdrop of the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela. Instead, the Sena may be accommodated elsewhere,” claimed a BJP functionary.However, a Shiv Sena official firmly ruled out that possibility. “Traditionally, Shiv Sena holds this seat, and there cannot be any change in our position. We are contesting, and that is final,” the senior Sena leader said.Meanwhile, as far as the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is concerned, Anil Kadam and Vasant Gite from the Shiv Sena (UBT) have filed their nominations. The party will decide on Monday who among them will ultimately remain in the fray.