DF allies stand to lose a lot in Satara

The Congress-NCP combine’s dominance in Satara is under threat in the assembly polls. It faces rebellion in six of the eight assembly constituencies in the district. In the 2004 elections, the ruling combine won eight of the 10 seats in the district — six went to the NCP and two to the Congress. The number of seats in Satara has reduced to eight following delimitation.

Angry supporters of Balasaheb Patil, sitting NCP MLA from Karad (North), took to the streets and burnt party flags on Wednesday after the high command denied Patil the ticket, and gave it to industrialist Atul Bhosale, who hails from NCP MP Udayanraje Bhosale’s camp. Patil, however, will be in the fray as an Independent candidate.

Sitting Congress MLA Madan Bhosale is likely to retain Wai. But he will be up against Makrand Patil, son of former NCP MP Laxmanrao Patil, fighting as an Independent. It might spell trouble for Bhosale, as Makrand is in the good books of Udayanraje.

In Karad (South), sitting Congress MLA Vilas Undalkar has been challenged for the ticket by party colleagues Indrajeet Mohite, son of late Yashwantrao Mohite, and party district president Anandrao Patil. Adding intrigue to the contest, NCP leader Madan Mohite has already filed his nomination as an Independent.

In Koregaon, the NCP has nominated its sitting MLA of the erstwhile Jawali assembly constituency, Shashikant Shinde. Jawali now has been merged with Koregaon. Koregaon’s sitting MLA Shalinitai Patil, who was removed from the NCP a few years ago, is going to contest the polls independently.