On D-Day, BJP, Cong have their fingers crossed

AFTER debating over the outcome of Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency since April 11, the polling day, city is now awaiting the final verdict when counting begins from 8 am on Thursday. The debates over exit polls, claims and counter-claims on social media posts over the numbers projected for each parties, are over and Nagpur’s voters are now anxious to know their own prediction. Till the voting day, a majority of the city was speaking about sureshot victory of Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari by a record margin.

The pitch changed soon when his nearest rival, Nana Patole of Congress-Nationalist Congress Party, claimed the voting percentage and patterns were going in his favour. Since then, experts and pollsters have been deliberating on the result. BJP has already geared up for Gadkari’s victory while there is a silent enthusiasm in the Congress camp which is expecting a major surprise. According to experts, development was never an issue in these elections.

The election was fought on caste equations. Congress workers are of the view that BJP underestimated Patole who chalked out his campaign in a planned manner. Patole depended on padyatras and is believed to have worked well on the caste factor. While political pundits are expecting a tough fight, believing in the Dalit, Muslim, Kunbi vote share to Patole, the Gadkari camp is confident of a positive verdict on its development plank. Patole, who hails from Bhandara, was relatively a new name for Nagpur which may prove a disadvantage for him in the end result. Infighting among local Congress is also termed as a major factor going against Patole’s chances.

For BJP, the point of interest is the margin of victory. Gadkari himself is confident of winning by a margin of over 4 lakh votes. Local pundits have predicted a lesser margin of victory while some adventurous souls have already declared a major upset on Thursday. All the speculations, guesswork and numbers game will come to rest by late Thursday night when the results are likely to be announced. Till then, all camps have their fingers crossed.