Congress has fielded Dhangekar as the Lok Sabha candidate from Pune while BJP has fielded former mayor Murlidhar Mohol. Bapat was a Brahmin and this time, BJP has bet on a Maratha to douse the Maratha anger in parts of this constituency. Dhangekar is an OBC and an assembly victory has given hope to the Congress that he can end the dry spell for the party ever since Suresh Kalmadi won the seat in 2009. From poor urban infrastructure, traffic woes, the Maratha quota issue and Congress' allegation that the Constitution would be altered if the BJP comes to power, Pune mirrors all what is being discussed in Maharashtra politics.
