Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Solapur constituency gears up for triangular contest

Solapur is gearing up for an interesting contest in the state as Sushilkumar Shinde, senior Congress leader is locked in a fierce battle with Prakash Ambedkar, founder of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and Jai Siddheshwar Shivacharya Swami, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate.

Shinde along with Ambedkar and Jai Siddheshwar Shivacharya Swami, a Jangam community leader having considerable clouts among Lingayat community, filed their nominations on Monday amid large processions. With Ambedkar throwing his hat, the race for Solapur seat has become interesting.

Solapur will go to polls in the second phase of the general election on April 18.

With triangular contest on cards, political observers feel it may pose trouble for Shinde, who has represented the seat multiple times though he was defeated by BJP nominee in 2014. The constituency has a high number of Dalit and Muslim population and their votes get diverted to Ambedkar, whose Vanchit Aghadi enjoys considerable support among the communities.

Before filing nomination, Ambedkar garlanded the statue of DR Ambedkar where a large number of the public had gathered to support him. Prakash is the grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.

His procession coincided with another one led by Shinde.

“I am contesting from Solapur owing to the demand made by various communities. My contest is with BJP nominee,” said Ambedkar.

When asked, Jai Siddheshwar Shivacharya Swami said his real contest is with Ambedkar. “Shinde has already lost once, and so the fight is between BJP and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi nominees,” said Swami.

The police kept tight security and placed barricaded in the entire area as part of security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident and did not allow any supporters at the venue.

According to Solapur district collector, 15 nominations from ten candidates were received in one day. As Tuesday (March 26) is the last day for filing nomination forms the administration is hoping that more nominations will be filled.

Solapur district collector has issued guidelines, saying the maximum number of people allowed at the time of filing of nomination by a candidate will be five, including the candidate, whereas the maximum number of vehicles allowed would be three.

The Solapur Lok Sabha seat is spread over Solapur north,Solapur south, Solapur central, Akkalkot, Mohol and Pandharpur legislative assemblies.

Solapur Lok Sabha constituency has 17.02 lakh voters who will cast their votes at 1,751 polling stations set up in the constituency.