CHinchwad bypoll: Shankar Jagtap emerges as strong contender for Chinchwad after FadnavisтАЩs surprise visit
WITH ONLY a few days to go before the BJP declares its candidate for Chinchwad assembly seat, which will go for bypoll on February 26, the name of Shankar Jagtap, the brother of deceased BJP MLA Laxman Jagtap, has emerged as a strong contender. The state leadership is likely to announce the final name on February 4 or 5.
While BJP leaders have not stated his candidature on record, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisтАЩs surprise visit at ShankarтАЩs residence last week has fuelled speculations. Shankar Jagtap also met top BJP leaders at party headquarters in Mumbai two days back, leaders close to him said.
BJP Pimpri-Chinchwad president Mahesh Landge said he was not aware of the name of the candidate. тАЬOur party leadership is expected to announce the name this week itself, either on Saturday or Sunday,тАЭ Landge said on Tuesday.
Asked whether a Jagtap family member will be the ultimate choice, Landge said, тАЬMost probablyтАжтАЭ When asked if it would be Shankar, Landge said, тАЬI cannot comment on thatтАжOur partyтАЩs parliamentary board will take the decision.тАЭ On FadnavisтАЩs visit, Shankar said, тАЬThe Deputy Chief MinisterтАжsaid he wanted to meet the family and condole my brotherтАЩs death.тАЭ When asked whether Fadnavis enquired with him about elections, Shankar replied in the negative.
After the death of Laxman Jagtap, the names of his wife Ashwini and younger brother Shankar had been doing the rounds as probable candidates. It was speculated that there was even a dispute in the family in this regard but the local BJP leadership denied it. тАЬThere is no dispute in the Jagtap family,тАЭ said Landge.
