KOLHAPUR: Madha Lok Sabha election is all set to witness a big clash between two political families -- Mohite-Patil and Shinde. Sanjay Shinde , president of Solapur zilla parishad, is the NCP candidate.The nomination of Sanjay Shinde was officially announced by senior NCP leader Ramraje Nimbalkar in the presence of party chief Sharad Pawar. Shinde had earlier officially joined the NCP at Pawar's Baramati residence. Several supporters of Sanjay Shinde, who were present in large numbers, celebrated the NCP announcement of his candidature.Shinde's nomination as NCP candidate was expected after Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil and his group joined BJP on Wednesday. Sanjay Shinde is the brother of NCP MLA Baban Shinde and had become zilla parishad president with the help of BJP. The Shinde family is considered arch-rivals of the Mohite-Patils in Solapur district.Shinde was reluctant to contest Lok Sabha polls and was rather keener on Assembly elections.However, Mohite-Patil's decision to join BJP changed the scenario in the past three days. The NCP leadership managed to convince him to take on Mohite-Patil from Madha, which has now become a prestigious for NCP and the Pawar clan.Sanjay Shinde, along with his brother Baban Shinde, MLA, emerged strong leaders of the anti-Mohite-Patil group in local politics. He became president of zilla parishad with the help of BJP. The ruling party supported him because of his anti-Mohite-Patil politics. A group of NCP zilla parishad members, who are in the opposite camp of Mohite-Patil, also helped him become president of zilla parishad.BJP's first choice for Madha seat was Sanjay Shinde as he had a cordial relationship with state party leaders. However, he also holds NCP Sharad Pawar in high esteem. Shinde, in fact, announced that he would campaign for Sharad Pawar if he continues as the candidate for Madha. Pawar, though, has opted out of Lok Sabha polls 2019.BJP approached Shinde to contest Lok Sabha after Pawar changed his earlier decision to contest from Madha.

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