Retaining seats in Marathwada won’t be a cakewalk for BJP-Sena combine

By: Ranjan Dasgupta and Syed RizwanullahNASHIK: It is not going to be a cakewalk for the saffron combine as it attempts to retain its five seats in Marathwada and Khandesh.Compared to the smooth sailing for the BJP in Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Raver and Jalna and the Sena in Aurangabad in the 2009 and 2014 elections, party nominees had to sweat it out this time.Meanwhile, the leaders of the UPA have thrown their weight behind the candidates, who have described the election as a ‘do-or-die’ fight.The entry of the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) and MIM too has changed the political equations. Farmers distress, issues related to farm loan waiver, water scarcity dominated the poll campaign.Big clash in AhmednagarDecades-old rivalry between Sharad Pawar and the Vikhe Patil family has dominated the campaign in Ahmednagar. The Pawar-led NCP refused to part with the seat so that the third generation from the Vikhe Patil family could enter politics. Eventually, BJP picked disgruntled neurosurgeon Sujay Vikhe Patil, while NCP is standing behind young local MLA Sangram Jagtap.Initially, sitting BJP MP Dilip Gandhi was miffed, but now seems to be toeing the party line. Apart from the BJP-Sena workers, Vikhe Patil loyalists in Congress too are campaigning for Sujay.Jagtap too comes from a prominent political family. He played a key role in NCP’s good performance at the civic polls last year and has the backing of Congress satrap Balasaheb Thorat.BJP infighting in JalgaonA last-minute change in BJP nomination from Jalgaon has ruffled feathers. BJP had initially picked Smita Wagh, wife of the party district president Uday. She had even filed her nomination papers. But on the last day of filing of nominations, BJP announced the name of Chalisgaon MLA Unmesh Patil Meanwhile, though NCP’s Gulabrao Deokar has a good network in the constituency, there is still a shadow of the 2013 housing scam on himRaksha has Khadse backingSitting BJP MP Raksha Khadse carries the weight of ensuring a win in Raver for her father-in-law Eknath Khadse, who has been in troubled waters. She is facing Ulhas Patil of Congress. Apart from senior Khadse backing her, the BJP too has a strong base in the constituency.Ulhas Patil had also contested the 2014 LS polls as a rebel but had failed to impress. His campaign this time started late as the Congress and the NCP were locked in a tussle over the seat.Khaire faces tough rivalsShiv Sena veteran Chandrakant Khaire has to beat the strong anti-incumbency mood. His strongest challenger is party rebel and Kannad MLA Harshvardhan Jadhav. Khaire’s worries have multiplied due to the presence of two other rivals — Congress candidate Subhash Zambad and MIM’s Imtiyaz Jaleel.Danve to take on AutadeBJP state president Raosaheb Danve is also up against anti-incumbency mood.Congress has nominated Vilas Autade, who is banking on the anger against BJP.The VBA has fielded Sharadchandra Wankhede, who is likely to eat into the traditional Congress votes.