Shirur Lok Sabha constituency is an important parliamentary constituency of Maharashtra. It has been occupied by Amol Kolhe of Nationalist Congress Party for two consecutive elections. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, he contested on behalf of Sharad Pawar faction of Nationalist Congress Party. This parliamentary constituency came into existence in 2008 after the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission constituted in 2002. Voting was held here for the first time in 2009 to elect an MP. The Ramlinga temple here is a very important place religiously. Surrounded by hilly valleys, this area is very beautiful naturally.
This Lok Sabha constituency falls entirely under Pune district. It is formed by combining Junnar, Ambegaon, Khed Alandi, Shirur, Bhosari and Hadapsar assembly constituencies. In the last assembly elections held in 2019, the Nationalist Congress Party had almost clean sweeped the elections and won five out of six assembly constituencies. At the same time, one seat also went to the account of BJP. The Junnar assembly seat of this Lok Sabha constituency came into existence in 1962 with the formation of Maharashtra state. On which till now almost all the parties except BJP have been successful in opening their accounts. Currently, Vallabh Benke of Ajit Pawar’s faction of NCP is the MLA from here. Before him, Sharad Sonawane of Maharashtra Navnirman Seva was elected as MLA here in 2014.
Ambegaon assembly seat of Shirur Lok Sabha constituency of Maharashtra is considered to be one of the strongest strongholds of NCP in Maharashtra. Where the party’s veteran leader Dilip Balse Patil has been elected MLA for seven consecutive times. Balse has remained undefeated on this seat since 1990. He reached the assembly on Congress ticket in the 1990 and 1995 elections. Voters of Khed Alandi assembly seat of Shirur Lok Sabha constituency, which came into existence after 1967, have so far expressed trust in all parties except Bharatiya Janata Party. NCP is seen as a strong contender on this seat, because since 1999 the party had lost only the 2014 election here. Currently, NCP leader Dilip Mohite is representing this area.
The Shirur assembly seat, known as number 198 in the state assembly, has been contesting between BJP and NCP since 1999. Congress had last won the election in Shirur in 1995. Currently, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) faction leader Ashok Pawar is taking the voice of the people of this area to the assembly. MLA Ashok Pawar had also made his way to the assembly in 2009. The people of Hadapsar assembly constituency, which came into existence in 2009 after the delimitation in Maharashtra in 2008, have changed the party representing them every fifth year. Currently, NCP leader Chetan Tupe is the MLA from here. Before him, BJP’s Yogesh Tilekar was also elected MLA from Hadapsar. Voting for the Bhosari assembly seat of Shirur Lok Sabha constituency was also held for the first time in 2009. Since 2014, this seat has been occupied by Mahesh Landge of Bharatiya Janata Party.
