Maval Lok Sabha seat will remain with Shiv Sena, says MP Shrirang Barne

Hours after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar announced that his grand nephew Parth Pawar would contest polls from Maval, Shiv Sena sitting Member of Parliament Shrirang Barne said that he is confident of his victory from the seat.

Barne said that the political atmosphere is in favour of the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) across the state and Pawar’s decision to opt out from the Lok Sabha race is an indication of it. “The atmosphere is favourable for the BJP and the Shiv Sena. In Maval, it is clear that the seat will remain with the Shiv Sena,” said Barne.

Earlier in the day, Pawar withdrew his candidature from the Madha Lok Sabha constituency saying that Parth Pawar, the next generation leader from the Pawar family, will contest polls from Maval.

“There are six assembly constituencies in Maval, including Panvel, Karjat, Uran, Maval, Chinchwad and Pimpri. Only one assembly constituency, Karjat, is with the NCP and that is mainly because there was a conflict within the Sena faction. However, in Maval, NCP does not have a base and it does not matter who contests from the NCP for the seat. We will win the seat,” said Barne.

On February 20, Pawar had said he will contest the Lok Sabha elections, while his nephew Ajit Pawar and other family members will not contest.