BJP announces Sandip Joshi as its candidate for Graduates’ Constituency
| Date :10-Nov-2020 |
Principal Correspondent :
With the announcement of the name of Nagpur Mayor Sandip Joshi as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate for the Graduates’ Constituency rather belatedly, the political picture of this prestigious contest has become clear. The BJP now has a strong candidate in the young Joshi with an experience of nearly 20 years in local politics. Having held various positions of responsibility in the party and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Sandip Joshi enjoys a productive connect with the educated voters of the region. The average workers of the BJP have welcomed the nomination and are looking for a welcome contest in which they feel assured of victory.
An hour before announcing the name of Sandip Joshi’s candidature, Party has bestowed the responsibility of the whole election on the shoulders of former Maharashtra Minister and BJP State General Secretary Chandrashekhar Bawankule. Chandrakant Patil, State BJP President has issued the letter in that regard. ‘The Hitavada’ spoke to Bawankule who felt confident of Joshi’s victory as the party has the background of substantial work in the Graduates Constituency represented earlier by bigwigs such as Gangadhar Fadnavis (father of former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in State Assembly Devendra Fadnavis), Nitin Gadkari (now Union Minister) and currently former Nagpur Mayor Anil Sole.
Besides Bawankule, average party workers also feel that Sandip Joshi enjoys a good political pedigree as his father (the late) Diwakar Joshi was the BJP’s Member of Legislative Council (MLC) from the prestigious Teachers’ Constituency. This will act as a good launch-pad for Sandip Joshi in his campaign. With Devendra Fadnavis being the Star Campaigner during 2019 assembly elections, Sandip Joshi spearheaded the campaign in Nagpur South-West constituency from where Fadnavis won. Sandip Joshi’s political journey has been dotted with many successful assignments he handled for the party and the city. Not only has he been a Corporator since 2002 but also was Chairman of the NMC Standing Committee for two times and Leader of the Ruling Party in the NMC General Body.
His ascendence to the position of Mayor was also a foregone conclusion in political circles. It may be noted that some time ago, Sandip Joshi had announced that he was opting out of municipal politics. The average party workers as well as the people had interpreted that as an indication of his future plans for elevated assignments in State politics. Before getting occupied into BJP, Joshi had worked with Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), a youth wing of BJP. Sandip Joshi has not only established his name as political leader but also earned name as social worker, music lover, sportsman. He was associated with Nagpur District Basketball Association (NDBA), in city. Through his organisation ‘Zep’ he endeavoured to give feasts of cultural programmes to Nagpurians.
Once he noticed that several people thronged Medical College and Hospitals in Nagpur and there was no arrangement of food there for these people. Taking serious cognizance of the same, Joshi started ‘Deendayal Thali’ at Government Medical College and Hospital through which common public get complete meal by paying a very small amount. Expressing gratitude towards all the senior leaders of the Party, Sandip Joshi said, “I always have abided by the party rules and tried to fulfill the expectations. I am going to polls aggressively. I am aware less number of days remained for the campaign. But BJP always contests as party irrespective of who the candidate is. I shall have an advantage of the earlier candidates who have strengthened the constituency through their dedication.