Even as several male aspirants who have been denied tickets are looking at contesting the polls as independent candidates their female counterparts do not seem too keen to follow suit. However, they are disappointed with their party overlooking the work they have done. Out of the eight Assembly constituencies in Pune city only Parvati Assembly constituency will see women candidates (BJP candidate Madhuri Misal and CPM candidate Kiran Moghe) contesting election. Former mayor Vandana Chavan who was to be given a ticket by NCP from Kasba Peth constituency has withdrawn her name.

All the major political parties including Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and BJP seem to have pushed aside the aspiring women candidates, corporators and party workers including mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale of NCP and former mayor Rajani Tribhuvan of Congress. “What can I say? It is a bad luck for women. There are a number of very efficient women who have been slogging hard for the development of their respective constituencies yet were not given tickets by their parties,” said Mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale, herself an aspirant from Hadapsar which finally went to Congress’ Balasaheb Shivarkar.

“Despite nobody’s opposition to my candidature, my party leaders did not give me an opportunity. I have got a strong hold in the constituency and hence I could have easily won. Maybe my party did not press for my name in a strong way,” added Bhosale.

However, faith in her leadership is stopping her from standing as an independent candidate. “Even though women corporators have not been given candidature this time it means we would be given a chance for the post of MLC.”

... contd.