The state's sugar belt Sangli, which is still considered to be the Congress' bastion, even though it went to the BJP in 2014, might not be completed deserted by the Grand Old Party. Some leaders are working with an UPA ally Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna to restore the seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

According to sources, the ally would field its candidate from the seat despite Opposition from Congress loyalists in the segment. On Tuesday, Congress leader Satej Patil met Swabhimani's Raju Shetti and asked him to wait for two days before deciding on whether he would field his candidate under UPA or as an Independent one. Shetti has asked Patil to decide at once whether he would be given Sangli or Shirdi, or else he would be free to contest from Sangli without the UPA.