Sushil Kumar Shinde to file nomination papers on March 25

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has requested the presence of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar while he files his nomination papers from Solapur Lok Sabha constituency on March 25.
Since Pawar has a stronghold in all assembly segments of the Lok Sabha constituency and has an upper hand in district central co-operative banks, town councils, dairy development society and the market agro committee, Shinde wants Pawar's co-operation and at every step during the election, sources said.
During the last Lok Sabha election, Shinde had romped home with a margin of more than 94,000 votes with the help of Pawar, against his arch rival Sharad Bansode of BJP. Since the political scenario has changed due to the entry of Aam Aadmi Party, Shinde needs more help from Pawar, sources said.

In the past, Shinde's wife Ujjwala Shinde had been trounced in Solapur Lok Sabha election against BJP candidate Subhash Deshmukh.
Sources said Pawar had held a closed-door meeting along with BJP candidate Sharad Bansode a few weeks ago, which had sparked rumours that Pawar had blesssed Bansode's poll battle against Shinde.