Maharashtra Minister Dilip Walse Patil will contest from this seat to retain it. The seven-time Ambegaon MLA was once Sharad Pawar's personal secretary but switched to Ajit Pawar’s camp during the rebellion. Walse had said in August that he would contest the Assembly polls since his daughter was not willing to. Son of late Congress MLA Dattatray Walse-Patil, Dilip’s defection was most shocking since he was untainted by any central agency probes. He has also served as speaker of the assembly.
He headed NCP’s Lok Sabha manifesto committee. Besides Walse, another shocker during the rebellion was of Chhagan Bhujbal, considered staunchest supporter of Sharad Pawar.