LokSabha 2019: BJP likely to field Bapat from Pune

Pune: According to sources, the BJP has almost finalised District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat’s name for Pune Lok Sabha constituency. However, people will have to wait for two more days for the formal announcement. Some party leaders have confirmed that Bapat’s name is being finalised for the Lok Sabha seat and it will be declared in next two days.
 
From the last one week, a few party leaders were saying that sitting MP Anil Shirole will be the candidate. However, two days ago, BJP National President Amit Shah conducted a meeting of senior leaders at Delhi. This meeting was attended by CM Devendra Fadnavis, Minister Chandrakant Patil and Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar. During this meeting, the party finalised names of the candidates from several prominent LS constituencies of State.
 
There are six aspirants for the Pune Lok Sabha seat: MP Shirole, city unit president Yogesh Gogawale, Girish Bapat, former standing committee chairman Murlidhar Mohol, retired foreign secretary Dnyaneshwar Mule and Vikas Raskar, a local leader from Hadapsar.
 
Last week, the BJP gave responsibility to Bapat as coordinator of BJP-Shiv Sena for Western Maharashtra. Following this announcement, Bapat conducted a get-together of BJP and Shiv Sena corporators. He arranged a meeting with businessmen and prominent personalities of different sectors.
 
Bapat contested the Lok Sabha election in 1996 against Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi. He showed interest in contesting the Lok Sabha election in 2014. However, the party did not give him a chance then. The party gave him responsibility as Cabinet Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, Food and Drugs and charge as District Guardian Minister of Pune.

Another Chance

• Last week, the BJP gave responsibility to Girish Bapat as coordinator of BJP-Shiv Sena for Western Maharashtra. Following this announcement, Bapat conducted a get-together of BJP and Shiv Sena corporators. 
• Some party leaders have confirmed that Bapat’s name is being finalised for the Lok Sabha seat and it will be declared in two days.