Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Will accept party’s decision says Shirole on Bapat’s selection

Anil Shirole, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) sitting member of Parliament (MP), who has been denied a ticket for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, on Saturday said, it the party’s decision and he will accept it. Girish Bapat, 69, a veteran Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker and a member of legislative assembly (MLA) of five terms will be contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as the BJP candidate from the city. The polling in Pune is scheduled for April 23.

Shirole, who is known for his clean image and gentlemanly behaviour, said, “It is the party’s decision and I will accept it. After getting to know that the party has nominated Bapat, I called him on Saturday morning and offered my best wishes. I will work wholeheartedly for the party’s victory.”

When asked about reasons for being denied the ticket, Shirole said, “While most sitting MPs got tickets, some lost out due to a number of aspirants from the constituency, such as Pune.”

Shirole said, “I worked on development projects, such as clearances for expansion of the Lohegaon airport, Purandhar international airport issue and appointment of a consultant for the river rejuvenation project.”

“The party has given me a lot. I was nominated twice for the Lok Sabha polls and won in 2014. I am the only leader to have served as the city BJP president for two terms, besides other positions in the last 20 years,” he said.

Assembly ticket for Shirole’s son?

BJP leaders in the city said that a compromise is likely to have been worked out with the BJP’s sitting MP Anil Shirole. The leaders said that his son Siddharth is likely to be nominated for the party ticket from the Shivajinagar assembly constituency during the state polls.

Presently, Siddharth is a corporator and director of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), the city bus service.

When asked about the ‘compromise formula,’ Shirole said, “There is no compromise formula. The party has chosen Siddharth to work for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and PMPML and he is doing a good job there.”