MNS to contest in Pune, Deepak Paygude is their candidate

Announcing candidature of former MLA and party general secretary Deepak Paygude, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) ended the speculations of the party not contesting Pune Lok Sabha seat.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) city unit, especially after the developments last week, after the meeting between former national president Nitin Gadkari and MNS chief Raj Thackeray hoped that MNS would not field any candidate in Pune.

Now BJP city unit would have to wait till Thursday when party's Central Election Committee meets in New Delhi to announce the remaining five candidates in Maharashtra. Paygude started his career with Shiv Sena and became a corporator by winning the election with a narrow margin in his first in 1992.

Paygude had left the counting centre assuming that he has been defeated but after the postal ballots were counted, he won the election by 13 votes and became the corporator in 1992. He becaman MLA in 1995 by defeating the veteran late Prakash Dhere of Congress and retained the Bhavani Assembly segment seat in 1999 elections. He received defeat at the hands of Kamal Dhole-Patil in 2004 elections after which Paygude left active politics. 

During his first tenure as MLA, he started Sainik School near Wagholi and also established his co-operative bank. He also has started Lok Seva Kitchen to provide meals at a cheaper price and has also started Lok Seva Bazaar, the fair price grocery mall for people.

Paygude who was away from active politics was summoned by Thackeray four months ago and asked him to take the reigns of MNS Pune affairs as the city unit was marred by factionalism and infighting.