Aggressive developmental works to help BJP win
| Date :26-Sep-2019 |
By Vikas Vaidya :
Plenty of development work done during the tenure of Sudhakar Deshmukh, two-time MLA will help Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) win the West Nagpur seat in upcoming State Assembly elections. The win will become easier as a lot of differences among Congress and fierce infighting among its candidates have come to the fore. 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. Through him BJP started his winning journey of West Nagpur. Fadnavis won from this constituency twice-- in 1999 and 2004. By 2009 elections, the South West Nagpur constituency was created and Fadnavis shifted to that constituency. In 2009 Sudhakar Deshmukh contested for the first time from West Nagpur on BJP ticket and defeated Anees Ahmed of Congress by a narrow margin. In 2014, there were lot of differences and lack of planning was visible in Congress.
The party was not able to find its candidate. Congress had planned to field Vikas Thakre from South West Nagpur as Rajendra Mulak was interested in contesting from West Nagpur. In fact, Mulak had prepared himself. Last minute all the calculations changed and Thakre got the ticket. Mulak was given candidature of Kamptee. As expected Deshmukh defeated Thakre and started second term. The speculations are doing rounds, BJP may replace Deshmukh with somebody else. Haribhau Bagde, Speaker of State Assembly and Senior BJP leader had been to Nagpur and conducted interviews of probable candidates for various constituencies in Nagpur district.
During those interviews Dayashankar Tiwari, Nanda Jichkar along with Deshmukh staked their claims for this constituency. From Congress Prafulla Gudadhe has asked his Party to field him from West Nagpur. There is also one more speculation, Vikas Thakre may join BJP and the party will field him here. But that does not carry weight as he is the strong contender from Congress for West Nagpur. Kiran Pandav too is trying hard to get ticket. Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi is planning to field Muslim candidate while Anees Ahmed is trying as well. Anees Ahmed was defeated by a narrow margin so he has upper hand over other candidates from Congress.
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. 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.