Six constituencies in Nagpur district out of 12, are witnessing triangular fights. Of these six constituencies, two are in rural while four in city. The candidates playing major role in these constituencies can either emerge winner or affect the prospects of the one predicted to win. In Nagpur West apart from Sudhakar Kohale of Bharatiya Janata Party, and Vikas Thakre of Congress, Narendra Jichkar, an independent is fetching a good crowd.

 

There is either anti-incumbency or a feeling of forced candidate by the prominent parties. In such situation people are finding third option. In Nagpur West, both Thakre and Kohale are facing the challenge of Jichkar. In Nagpur rural-Ramtek and Katol are witnessing triangular fights while in city the constituencies like Nagpur East, Nagpur North and Nagpur Central along with Nagpur West have similar fights. In Ramtek, the candidature of Rajendra Mulak, expelled Congress leader, is giving headache to Maha Vikas Aaghadi (MVA) candidate Vishal Barbate and Mahayuti candidate Ashish Jaiswal. In Katol, Yadnyavalkya Jichkar, an independent candidate, son of late Congress leader Dr Shrikant Jichkar is likely to fetch good number of votes of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) who this time has fielded Salil Deshmukh. This fight is of do or die for Charan Singh Thakur who has been contesting polls for the last four terms and facing defeat. This time, BJP kept faith in him again. If Jichkar factor works, then Thakur has good chances. In Nagpur Central both main parties--Congress and BJP have not fielded Halba candidate.

 

The Halba population is over 1.20 lakh in this constituency. Muslims are on number 2 in Nagpur Central. Both communities are unhappy with Congress for not fielding candidate of their community. To add to the tension of Congress, its own leader Ramesh Punekar who himself is Halba filed nomination as an independent candidate. Punekar can be the deciding factor in Nagpur Central. Here formidable leader like Pravin Datke is contesting polls for the first time while Bunty Shelke of Congress is in the fray from Congress for the second time.

 

Nagpur East is likely to witnessing four-way contest as along with official candidates of Maha Vikas Aaghadi and Mahayuti, two other candidates have filed nomination. Maha Vikas Aaghadi has given ticket to NCP (SP) City President Duneshwar Pethe and Mahayuti has fielded three-term MLA Krishna Khopde. But expressing displeasure over Pethe’s candidature, Purushottam Hazare, a Congress leader filed nomination papers. Abha Pande who belongs to Ajit Pawar group of NCP, a constituent of Mahayuti too is toiling hard to win the seat. In North Nagpur in 2014, the presence of Kishor Gajbhiye made a difference and Dr Nitin Raut secured third spot. Gajbhiye stood at second and Dr Milind Mane registered victory. This time Congress leader Manoj Sangole is contesting polls on BSP ticket. Sangole, through his simple nature, is trying to create his own space wooing voters. If Sangole could fetch good number of votes then situation like 2014 can be repeated.