Pune MLC seat: NCP's Vandana Chavan poised to win unopposed

With the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance backing out of the election to Maharashtra Legislative Council seat from Pune local self government constituency, the lone NCP candidate Vandana Chavan is all set to score an unopposed victory.

Chavan, who heads the Pune NCP unit was the only candidate to have filed her papers for the March 26 elections on the last day of filing of nominations on Tuesday.

The disinterested approach of the saffron alliance in fielding its candidate for the election, has apparently stemmed from the clear domination of NCP in various local governing bodies.

The Pune council seat had fallen vacant following resignation of Laxman Jagtap who was elected to the state assembly from Chinchwad constituency.

Chavan's unopposed election is expected to be announced after the last date of withdrawal of nominations on March 12 by the district election officer.

An NCP spokesman said the party president Sharad Pawar had decided to field Chavan to strengthen women representation in the state legislature.

An environment activist, Chavan was the Pune mayor in 1997-98.