NASHIK: Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal of NCP (Ajit Pawar) said Thursday he would not contest on BJP's "lotus" symbol but rather on his party's "clock" sign if fielded from Nashik Lok Sabha seat.
"Media reports suggest I would contest on BJP's symbol. These are baseless and untrue. Our party chief Ajit Pawar and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis had told me that BJP brass wants me to contest from Nashik," he said.
His remarks came amidst a dilemma facing BJP as both its allies - Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP - are adamant about their demand for Nashik. A state BJP minister said: "Despite senior state BJP politicians holding several rounds of talks with their counterparts in Shiv Sena and NCP, no solution has emerged thus far."
Sena argues that it has been victorious in Nashik since 2014 and therefore should retain it. NCP is insistent on Nashik as BJP plans to contest from Satara, considered an NCP stronghold.
"Among the three Mahayuti partners, BJP is the strongest in Nashik. If BJP contests, it will win by a margin of at least 2.5 lakh votes. But, instead of contesting, BJP is working hard to end the impasse," the BJP minister said.
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