Challenges for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continue to grow in Chinchwad assembly constituency after former Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) standing committee chairman Navnath Jagtap joined the faction Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP).

The election for the Chinchwad seat will see the fight between BJP candidate Shankar Jagtap, the brother-in-law of sitting MP Ashwini Jagtap of the Mahayuti alliance. The NCP-SP party has fielded Rahul Kalate as Maha Vikas Agadi (MVA) candidate. Late Laxman Jagtap, Shankar’s brother, was the MP from Chinchwad for three terms. The Jagtap family has a stronghold in the constituency and areas like Old Sangvi, New Sangvi and Pimple Gurav are considered the stronghold of the Jagtaps.

Navanth Jagtap, who recently joined the NCP-SP alliance in support of Kalate, has strong ties in Pimple Gurav, Old Sangvi and New Sangvi areas. He was corporator for New Sangvi-Pimple Gurav region. His decision to join the NCP-SP is seen as a dent in the Jagtap family’s stronghold in these areas, which have a loyal voter base.

Meanwhile, Marathwada Development Federation president Arun Pawar announced his support for the NCP-SP alliance. Chinchwad constituency has a significant population from the Marathwada region. This duo, along with a large number of supporters, have now joined the Sharad Pawar faction. This new alliance adds to the challenges facing BJP candidate Shankar Jagtap.