Chhagan Bhujbal has withdrawn his candidature from Nashik Lok Sabha seat

New Delhi:

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal today said he has withdrawn his candidature from the Nashik Lok Sabha seat. The development comes amid a battle between the National Congress Party and the Shiv Sena for the seat.

Bhujbal, who is also a minister in the Maharashtra government, told reporters that he would support the Mahayutthi candidate in the Nashik seat. Mahayuti is an alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

He asked the league to nominate a candidate as soon as possible, as delays could hurt the league’s chances.

The Nashik seat is currently held by Hemant Godse of the ruling Shiv Sena. But the NCP, which has been keen to contest the issue, fielded Mr. Bhujbal, who declined a request to contest on the BJP symbol.

A section of BJP leaders, represented by more than 100 former corporators from the Nashik Municipal Corporation and Trimbakshwar Civic Corporation, have been campaigning for the Nashik seat. There are approximately 6.5 lakh Other Backward Class (OBC), 5.5 lakh Maratha and 3 lakh tribal voters in Nashik.

As a prominent leader of the OBC, Mr. Bhujbal hopes to gain votes from the community besides the support of traditional BJP followers.