Congress fields Thakre from Nagpur, Barve from Ramtek
   Date :24-Mar-2024

Congress fields Thakre 
 
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
 
 
Finally, name of Vikas Thakre for Nagpur figured in the 4th list released by Congress of its Lok Sabha candidates. Though City Congress had finalised name of Thakre, people were curious about it. On Saturday night, Congress released the list of its Lok Sabha candidates wherein four from Vidarbha are named.The fresh list includes four constituencies- Nagpur, Ramtek (SC), Bhandara-Gondia, and Gadchiroli-Chimur- out of the five that will go to polls in the first phase on April 19. Vikas Thakre will contest from Nagpur, Rashmi Barve from Ramtek, Namdeo Kirsan from Gadchiroli-Chimur and Prashant Padole from Bhandara-Gondia on Congress ticket.
 
Thakre, who is President of City Congress and MLA of West Nagpur, will contest against Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister. Gadkari has registered solid back-to-back victories in 2014 and in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Rashmi Barve, ex-President of Nagpur Zilla Parishad whose name is in news for the last two days will be contesting from Ramtek. Both constituencies carry a lot of importance. Though Barve’s case was disposed off by High Court, the enquiry against her continued regarding a complaint lodged about the validity of her caste.
 
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena (Shinde group) have still not decided as to whose candidate will contest from Ramtek LS seat. Shiv Sena’s Krupal Tumane is the current MP who stood victorious twice. But this time BJP claimed that according to its survey Tumane won’t be able to win. BJP wants to field its candidate from Ramtek. Congress MLA from Umred has met Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister brewing speculation that Parwe might be given the candidature for Ramtek on BJP ticket. The last date of filing of nominations is March 27. BJP and Sena need to decide on the candidate from Ramtek by then.