Jagtap Files Nomination for PMC; Faces Shivarkar's BJP Challenge in Ward 18

• Prashant Jagtap, who recently joined Congress, filed his nomination for Pune Municipal Corporation elections from Ward No. 18.
• Jagtap left NCP due to ideological opposition to a potential alliance between Sharad Pawar's NCP and Ajit Pawar's faction for PMC elections.
• Abhijit Shivarkar, son of former minister Balasaheb Shivarkar, joined BJP after Jagtap's Congress entry, as his nomination hopes faded.
• A significant contest is anticipated in Ward No. 18 between former friends Jagtap (Congress) and Shivarkar (BJP).
• Jagtap is a former corporator/mayor and was a prominent NCP leader known for his principled stand and aggressive opposition.

Why It Matters: Prashant Jagtap's Congress entry and nomination sets up a high-stakes PMC election battle.