Congress’ Rashmi Barve files papers for Ramtek
   Date :28-Mar-2024



Rashmi Barve  
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
 
 
Rashmi Barve, former President of Nagpur Zilla Parishad and candidate from Ramtek Lok Sabha (LS) constituency submitted her nomination papers on Wednesday. She is being fielded in the LS polls by Congress party, a constituent of Maha Vikas Aaghadi (MVA). Rashmi Barve was accompanied by ex-minister Sunil Kedar, Congress District President Rajendra Mulak, Convenor of Campaign committee Nana Gawande, former minister and senior leader of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Ramesh Bang submitted her nomination papers with Tushar Thombare, Additional Collector, working as in-charge Returning Officer for Ramtek Lok Sabha polls.
 
Rashmi Barve and other leaders reached Samvidhan Square and garlanded statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Meanwhile, all the supporters including leaders had gathered near Bishop Cotton School from where a rally was taken out and reached the Collector office. Zilla Parishad President Mukta Kokadde, Vice-President Kunda Raut, NCP leader Salil Deshmukh, District President Pravin Kunte Patil, City President Duneshwar Pethe, State Working President Shailendra Tiwari, ex-MP and Shiv Sena leader Prakash Jadhav, Harshal Kakde, Raju Tumsare and other leaders also were present.
 
Shockingly, no other stalwart leaders of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) had come in support of Barve during her filing of nomination. Though Barve has filed her papers, she is still facing the issue of her caste validation, being inspected by the Ministry of Social Justice of Maharashtra. A complaint has been lodged against her alleging that her caste documents are false.
 
Gajbhiye, Sakhare also file papers
The Ramtek constituency is likely to witness a quadrangular fight as Kishor Gajbhiye, senior Congress leader and Suresh Sakhare, another stalwart, presently with Shiv Sena (UBT) have filed nomination papers as Independent candidates. Gajbhiye had contested on Congress’ ticket in 2019 against Krupal Tumane of then united Shiv Sena and was defeated. Rashmi Barve from Congress and Parve from Shiv Sena (Shinde) have to take Gajbhiye and Sakhare seriously in Ramtek.
 
Adv Prakash Ambedkar had said that Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi would support Congress and decided not to field its candidate in Nagpur. But surprisingly, the party fielded Gajbhiye from Ramtek. Sakhare was with Bahujan Samaj Party and joined Shiv Sena (UBT). He had expected ticket of Lok Sabha. Disappointed with the party’s decision to allot it to Congress, Sakhare has decided to contest the elections as an Independent candidate.