Congress fields Tokas from Wardha, Manikrao from Yavatmal
| Date :20-Mar-2019 |
Charulata Tokas, Manikrao Thakre
Staff Reporter,
Putting all speculations to rest, Congress Party has fielded Charulata Tokas, state unit head of Mahila Congress and daughter of former MPCC President Prabha Rau, for Wardha Lok Sabha seat. The name has been finalised by Central Screening Committee. Former MPCC President Manikrao Thakre will be Congress candidate from Yavatmal-Washim. The official declaration of Congress nominee from Chandrapur, Ramtek and Akola is still awaited. However, Congress party workers gave a resounding welcome to Vishal Muttemwar at Nagpur after receiving reports about finalisation of his candidature from Chandrapur. Even from Ramtek, name of former bureaucrat Kishor Gajbhiye is doing rounds, but Congress is yet to name its official candidates. In 2009 and 2014, the Congress had fielded its top leader Mukul Wasnik from Ramtek. Congress has already nominated Nana Patole from Nagpur and Dr Namdeo Usendi from Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST) constituency. NCP has almost finalised candidature of Navnit Rana, wife of independent MLA Ravi Rana from Amravati (SC) seat.
The NCP has not declared its candidates for Bhandara-Gondia, Buldana seats. Bharatiya Janata Party is yet to declare its list and likely to do so on Wednesday evening. Shiv Sena’s Krupal Tumane who has been renominated from Ramtek Lok Sabha for the third time had defeated Congress stalwart Mukul Wasnik in 2014 to avenge his defeat in 2009 elections. Ex-IAS officer Kishor Gajbhiye, had contested 2014 assembly elections as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from North Nagpur segment and stood second. Thereafter, he joined Congress and was lobbying for Ramtek Lok Sabha seat since quite some time. The party is considered names of Mukul Wasnik, former minister Nitin Raut and Kishor Gajbhiye for this seat. During 2014 Lok Sabha, the BJP’s Ramdas Tadas had defeated Sagar Meghe who fought on Congress ticket. Interestingly, before actual elections, Congress had conducted internal polls to select most popular candidate and Meghe had defeated Tokas in that election and subsequently lost to Tadas and joined BJP. Now, the Congress has finalised name of Charulata Tokas, who has nursed the constituency since long.
Ex-MPCC President Manikrao Thakre will be Congress candidate from Yavatmal-Washim to take on Shiv Sena’s Bhavna Gawali who has maintained her winning spree against all odds since 2004. The party also considered candidature of ex-minister Shivajirao Moghe. However, suspense over Chandrapur, Ramtek and Akola seats is likely to continue at least till Wednesday when another list is expected. In Chandrapur, BJP’s Hansraj Ahir, who is winning consistently from 2004 has already started his campaign for 2019 polls. According to Congress workers, the party has finalised the name of Vishal Muttemwar, son of Congress veteran and former MP Vilas Muttemwar. Vishal has been quite active in Congress organisation and held many posts in the past. Congress is also considering the candidature of Balu Dhanorkar, a sitting Shiv Sena legislator on the verge of joining Congress and former minister Vijay Wadettiwar along with veteran Naresh Pugaliya and former minister Dr Sanjay Deotale.