Archive · 4 Oct 2026
BJP Names Pune Teachers Candidate as Shiv Sena Stakes Claim
The BJP and Shiv Sena are both interested in the Pune Teachers seat in Maharashtra.
The BJP has announced Kaustubh Muralidhar Gawde as its candidate.
Shiv Sena says it wants the same seat and has put forward Mangesh Chivte.
Chivte said Eknath Shinde told him to file nomination papers.
He also said Shinde would make the final decision about whether he contests.
Shiv Sena ministers supported Chivte’s claim.
The disagreement has created tension between the two parties, which are allies in the state government.
Voting for the council seats is set for October 23, and votes will be counted on October 27.
The BJP named Kaustubh Muralidhar Gawde as its candidate for the Pune Division Teachers constituency.
Shiv Sena also wants the seat and has identified Mangesh Chivte as its candidate.
Chivte said Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed him to file nomination papers, but Shinde would decide later whether he contests.
Shiv Sena ministers Uday Samant and Bharat Gogawale backed the party’s claim to the constituency.
Polling for five Maharashtra Legislative Council constituencies is scheduled for October 23, with counting on October 27.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, Kaustubh Muralidhar Gawde and Mangesh Chivte.
- What
- The BJP announced Gawde for the Pune Division Teachers seat, while Shiv Sena maintained its claim and backed Chivte.
- When
- The dispute was reported on October 4; polling is scheduled for October 23 and counting for October 27.
- Where
- The Pune Division Teachers constituency in Maharashtra.
- Why
- Both parties want to contest the Pune Teachers seat; Shiv Sena said it had sought that seat while the BJP took the Graduates constituency.
BJP
Shiv Sena
Who should contest Pune Teachers
BJP
The BJP announced Kaustubh Muralidhar Gawde as its candidate for the seat.
Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena says it still claims the seat and that Mangesh Chivte is its candidate.
Seat allocation between allies
BJP
The BJP has announced a candidate for Pune Teachers, despite Shiv Sena's claim.
Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena said it sought Pune Teachers for itself and Pune Graduates for the BJP.
- BJP candidate
- Kaustubh Muralidhar Gawde
- Shiv Sena candidate named
- Mangesh Chivte
- Shiv Sena's stated seat preference
- Pune Teachers constituency
- Other constituencies in the elections
- Pune Division Graduates, Nagpur Division Graduates, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates and Amravati Teachers
- Polling date
- October 23
- Vote counting date
- October 27