KOLHAPUR: Internal fighting borne out of growing ambition of leaders is posing a huge problem to the NCP in western Maharashtra from where the party is eyeing for the maximum number of LS seats.Known as the sugar bowl of Maharashtra, western Maharashtra is set to witness some interesting contests, which includes Madha in Solapur from where NCP chief Sharad Pawar will contest; Solapur from where senior Congress leader and former Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde will contest; Satara from where NCP's sitting MP Udayanraje Bhosale; and Hatkangale in Kolhapur district from where Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetti will contest.Apart from national topics, regional issues like reservation for Maratha and Dhangar communities, loan waiver to farmers and sugarcane price are likely to dominate electioneering.Four Lok Sabha constituencies in western Maharashtra, which are currently with NCP, are facing serious rebellion, forcing party chief Pawar to hold a series of closed door meetings with leaders. Madha, where Sharad Pawar will be contesting, is also not an exception. Party workers clashed with each other in front of Pawar in a rally at Phaltan.The NCP has four LS constituencies in western Maharashtra - Baramati, Madha, Satara and Kolhapur. With the exception of Baramati, the party leaders are busy handling friction among local leaders. NCP leaders admit in private that Sharad Pawar decided to contest from Madha to retain the seat. Any other candidate would have been in trouble owing to the infighting, they said.Kolhapur MP Dhananjay Mahadik is being opposed by a strong section of NCP and Congress leaders. Pawar's mediation does not seem to have worked with leaders continuing their attack on Mahadik. Udayanraje Bhosale is facing tough challenge from his own party men in Satara, including cousin Shivendraraje Bhosale. Pawar wants to keep Udayanraje in good humor as the latter has considerable influence in Madha.

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