SENIOR BJP leader and five-time MLA Chainsukh Sancheti has entered the poll fray from for the seventh time from Malkapur Assembly constituency. He will cross swords with Congress’ Rajesh Ekade, also a winner from the seat in the past. Thus, a tight finish between Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Mahayuti is expected in this constituency. Sancheti had contested as an Independent in 1995 and emerged winner. He then won four consecutive terms in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 on BJP ticket. But voters were not happy with the level of development in the constituency and taking advantage of this, Rajesh Ekade, who was once close to Sancheti, contested 2019 polls on Congress ticket. Ekade broke Sancheti’s winning streak in 2019. In 2009, there were 2,25,553 voters in Malkapur constituency out of which 1,53, 179 had exercised their right to vote. There were 15 candidates in the fray then. BJP’s Sancheti had polled 61,177 votes and defeated Shivchandra Tayde of the Congress party. He had polled 49,190 votes. Adv Harish Rao from Jan Swaraj Shakti Party stood third with 31,231 votes.

 

 

Anand Telang of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) could get only 1,890 votes and remained at the fourth place. In 2014, Malkapur constituency had 2,52,603 voters out of which 1,68, 452 had exercised their right to vote. Sancheti won again on BJP ticket. He defeated Congress’ Arvind Kolte who had polled 49,019 votes. Shiv Sena’s Vasant Bhojane and Santosh Raipure followed them. In 2019, there was a huge wave against incumbent MLA Sancheti, who then tasted defeat. Congress took advantage of this and Rajesh Ekade won the election with his 86,276 votes. He defeated Sancheti who had polled 71,892 votes. Nitin Nandurkar of VBA had got 12,549 votes and Independent Vijay Gadve 9, 876. In 2024 elections now, once again Chainsukh Sancheti of BJP and Rajesh Ekade of Congress have come face-to-face in Malkapur. So will Sancheti win for the sixth time or Ekade will manage to steal his thunder again is to be seen.