Bala Bhegde
Credit: X/@BalaBhegade
Pune: Moments after the NCP announced the candidature of sitting MLA Sunil Shelke from the Maval assembly constituency in Pune district, BJP leader and former minister of state Bala Bhegde announced his resignation from the saffron party.
Bapusaheb Bhegde, state vice-president of the NCP, also revolted and said he would contest the November 20 Maharashtra assembly election.
Bala Bhegde told reporters that he and his supporters had announced their resignations. They would support Bapu Bhegde and work to defeat Shelke, he added.
Sitting MLA Shelke had defeated Bala Bhegade, a former BJP MLA, in 2019 from this seat.
Bapu Bhegde said he was confident of getting the ticket from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, but the promise was not kept. "I have decided to contest elections as I was assured ticket by the party," he said.
Notably, in 2019, when the BJP picked Bala Bhegade as its candidate, Shelke who was with the BJP rebelled and joined the NCP (then united) and won the seat. Now after Shelke got the candidature from the Mahayuti alliance, Bapu Bhegde has revolted.
It would be interesting to see whom the rival NCP (SP) gives ticket in the constituency.