Kolhapur: Three prominent candidates in Solapur Lok Sabha constituency – Sushilkumar Shinde of Congress, Jay Siddheshwar Shivacharya of BJP and Prakash Ambedkar of Vanchit Bahunan Aaghadi – filed their nomination papers on Monday, ensuring a triangular contest for this reserved seat.All the candidates held rallies in a show of strength before filing the nomination papers. The massive turnout for Ambedkar’s march took many by surprise.By filing the nomination papers from Solapur, Ambedkar in fact put a full stop to speculations over his constituency – Solapur or Akola. Sources close to him said the grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar has still kept the option open of contesting from his traditional Akola constituency in Vidarbha. His followers said someone from his family should contest from Akola.A large number of Ambedkar followers participated in the march with blue, green and yellow flags. Parkash Ambedkar garlanded the statue of Dr Ambedkar before filing his nomination papers. He targeted Congress candidate Sushilkumar Shinde in his speech before filing the papers. “What has Shinde done for dalits in his long political career?” he asked.The Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi was willing to join hands with Congress to defeat BJP. However, both the parties could not agree on a seat-sharing formula.Ambedkar is fighting for the first time in western Maharashtra. He had contested from Akola and Mumbai. Congress leaders are concerned that Ambedkar will divide anti-BJP votes, causing problem for Shinde.BJP state unit president Raosaheb Danve and other prominent leaders were present when Shivacharya filed his papers. The party held a meeting of party workers before Shivacharya filed the papers.Addressing the workers, Shivacharya said he had joined politics to strengthen the leadership of Narendra Modi and to serve the nation. Danve said the BJP, led by Modi, was capable to ensure national security. Shiv Sena workers were also present on the occasion.Shinde was accompanied by his daughter and MLA Praniti, wife Ujwala and several Congress workers. Addressing the workers, Shinde said the current situation was not just an election but a war. He said it would be a fight between democracy and dictatorial system and the Congress workers have to fight for democracy.

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