Surprises, cakewalks, breaking of winning streak are on cards

If one has a look at Nagpur North, Nagpur West, Saoner and Hingna, there can be surprises, cakewalks for some candidates, some may break the winning streak of the others in State Assembly elections. Hingna can be a cakewalk for Sameer Meghe of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Dr Rajiv Potdar may break the winning streak of Sunil Kedar in Saoner. Dr Nitin Raut in Nagpur North and Vikas Thakre in Nagpur West of Congress are contesting elections as if it is their last battle. But in both constituencies, BJP has slight edge over others in terms of support from the Party which is united.All the four constituencies cannot ignore the candidates fielded by Bahujan Samaj Party and Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA). In Nagpur BSP has focussed on Suresh Sakhre, its State President who is contesting from Nagpur North.

Dr Rajiv Potdar, who is President of Bhartiya Janata Party’s Nagpur district unit himself contesting with full power from Saoner is likely to break winning streak of sitting MLA Sunil Kedar. It remains to be seen whether Kedar would bite a dust like in 1999. In this election Kedar will be facing a tough challenge in the form of Dr Rajiv Potdar. Dr Potdar has been building all the constituencies in Nagpur rural since long and has become a known face there. In 2013 Dr Potdar became President of BJP, Nagpur district unit and raised several issues related common citizens. Then Congress-NCP Government was in power and Dr Potdar left no stone unturned while playing the role of good opposition leader. When BJP came to power in 2014, he was given the responsibility of election head when Krupal Tumane was made Ramtek Lok Sabha candidate by Shiv Sena. Tumane defeated stalwart candidate of Congress Mukul Wasnik. Dr Potdar did play active role when Tumane won the Ramtek Lok Sabha seat second time in 2019. Many times while fighting for the issues related to common people, Dr Potdar did not care he represents BJP, the ruling party. There is lot of opposition is being expressed by the citizens against Sunil Kedar and Dr Potdar led them in several agitations. Dr Potdar was instrumental in clinching victory for BJP in 5 Municipal Councils out of 9 in district. In Gram Panchayat also Dr Potdar’s leadership became visible as BJP won 135 out of 235 Gram Panchayats. This fight will be interesting as Dr Rajiv Potdar though contesting for the first time he has kept his touch with the constituency since 2013 while Kedar will apply his full force to win for the fifth time. Sanchayata Patil of BSP, Arun Kedar of Swatantrata Bharat Party and Pramod Bagde of Vanchit are trying their best.

Though people are considering it will be a cakewalk for Sameer Meghe of BJP in Hingna, Meghe has not taken the election lightly. Meghes are known for their individual articulate planning. Meghe will be banking on the public-oriented works in the constituency and his connect with the people of his segment. During last five years, Meghe kept himself low-profile, focussed on the constituency, brought funds. In last election Party had replaced Vijay Ghodmare the winner of 2009 elections by Sameer Meghe. Now Ghodmare is fielded by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), though senior leader and ex-Minister Ramesh Bang too has shown his willingness to contest from the same party. Bang is unhappy because of ticket given to Ghodmare who was with BJP till he got ticket from NCP. NCP couldn’t pacify resentment in Bang camp. In 2014 Sameer Meghe, son of former MP Datta Meghe stood in front of Bang, and Sameer defeated Bang by a solid margin. Unlike most of the debutant, Meghe swung into action the day one and started taking development works one by one. He had got sanctioned the work of worth over Rs 2,300 crore. He endeavored to create Wanadongri and Butibori Municipal Councils. He also resolved the water scarcity issues of Wadi, Bokhara, Lava, Suraburdi, Isasani, Takalghat, Nildoh, Digdoh. Butibori flyover was the result of his pursuance with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Meghe brought 200-bedded ESIC hospital at Butibori. To streamline power supply in Hingna he pursued the issue with Chandrashekhar Bawankule and got sanctioned seven substations worth Rs 35 crore. Meghe conducted health camps through Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital of Wardha. He also took efforts to develop Fetri village that was adopted by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. But Rahul Sontakke of BSP and Nitesh Jangle of Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi cannot be ignored.

North Nagpur has always been a stronghold of Republican Party of India (RPI) and Congress first broke it with a win. BJP too through Bhola Badhel registered first win. In last election Dr Milind Mane of BJP stood victorious. Though Congress and BJP camps are saying constituency is tough, BJP is likely to repeat its performance this time too for three main reasons—-1. the development works done by Dr Mane, 2. Clean and man next door image of Dr Mane and 3. Dr Mane did not lose touch with the people of the constituency. Dr Nitin Raut, of Congress, a three-time winner and Suresh Sakhre of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) who is also the State President of the Party are the two strong opponents contesting against Dr Mane. Era of Dr Nitin Raut began in 1999. He won 1999, 2004 and 2009 elections. In fact he was Minister in the Maharashtra State Ministry. In 2014, BJP fielded Dr Milind Mane, a person with a clean image and liked by all communities and won the election. Dr Mane did several works in this constituency. Some of them include a library-cum-community centre, Panchavati Nagar library, a swimming pool and outdoor sports facilities at Vaishali Nagar for Rs 10 crore; two sports complexes at Ahuja Nagar and Automotive Square costing Rs 13.50 crore; first ever digital library at Lashkaribagh costing Rs 8 crore; and two libraries at Patankar Square and Vinobha Bhave Nagar. There is one more big projects worth Rs 130 crore called as Ambedkar Convention Centre. Dr Mane kept working silently. His opponents alleged that in Lok Sabha elections Nitin Gadkari could not get the good lead in North Nagpur which is not a good sign. But according to politician pundits, the Assembly elections are fought with different perspectives. BSP has focussed on Sakhare and he can be a game changer.

Sudhakar Deshmukh of BJP is banking on development works done by him. Though the infighting in Congress is invisible, Thakre is contesting election on his own manpower. West Nagpur was in the hands of Congress till 1995. Present Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis marked his entry in State politics when he won from this constituency in 1999 and since then BJP retained it. Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi is planning to field Muslim candidate. Sudhakar Deshmukh in his second term brought lot many development works and funds to West Nagpur. Mankapur flyover, Gorewada Zoo, sports complex,district hospital worth Rs 28.64 crore should be credited to him. He was instrumental in giving momentum to 7.7 km Amravati road- Mankapur inner ring road, Zingabai Takli road, tower line repairing worth Rs 9 crore, Amravati road DPR is in progress. Flyover in front of railway station is to be demolished and six lane road would be constructed there. It also comes in West Nagpur. Ramjhula second phase, Futala lake beautification worth Rs 100 crore, Dabha agriculture convention and training centre are some of the big works undertaken by Deshmukh. Deshmukh has also brought funds for streamlining sewer line drinking water pipeline work, PWD has given him Rs 60 crore. Primary needs of people are being fulfilled. Two water tanks in Dabha, Zingabai Takli are to be erected etc. Deshmukh has appealed people to elect him if the development is to be continued. Afzal Umar Farooque of BSP can be a headache for the candidates of other parties.