The political pundits may be unsure about Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Republican-Left Democratic Front (RLDF) winning any seats in Pune district in the Assembly elections, but there are no two opinions about the two parties eating into votes of Congress-NCP or BJP-Shiv Sena candidates.

Most of the parties that are with RLDF had contested previous elections with Congress-NCP combine. The MNS that was non-existent in the last elections will mostly grab BJP-Sena votes. But this will be true only in eight segments in Pune city and a few in Pimpri-Chinchwad, as MNS and RLDF are not contesting in rural parts of the district.

Subhash Ware, convenor of socialist front, a part of RLDF, said the party could win four seats in Pune city. “There is a strong following for Republican and Ambedkar ideology in Cantonment, Shivajinagar, Parvati and Wadgaonsheri,” he said.

NCP spokesperson Ankush Kakade agreed that in some constituencies RLDF and MNS candidates were strong. “In Khadakwasla, an NCP bastion, Ramesh Wanjale is contesting on the MNS ticket. It is not MNS but Wanjale’s own hold that will get him votes. In Purandar, where veteran Janata Dal leader Dada Jadhavrao is contesting from RLDF, the contest will be tough. However, NCP has an edge over them with its strong base,” he said.

MNS city spokesperson Prakash Dhamdhere said, “Some of our corporators who are contesting in our first poll will gain through their good work.” However, Shiv Sena city deputy chief Prashant Badhe said, “We have no threat from the MNS.”