Independents showed prowess; Jansangh stood third in Nagpur
| Date :26-Sep-2019 |
By Vikas Vaidya ;
Leaders watched: Sathe, Gedam, Sukalikar, Ramjivan Chaudhari, Bardhan, Tidke, Meshram
In 1962’s Maharashtra Assembly elections there were 10 constituencies unlike today’s 12 in Nagpur district. In city, there were four constituencies -- Nagpur 1, Nagpur 2, Nagpur and Nagpur 3 (SC). In Nagpur rural, there were six constituencies as they are today. Kalmeshwar was one of the constituencies but not Hingna. In all constituencies Congress’ dominance was visible. Elections in Katol, Kalmeshwar, Saoner, Ramtek, Nagpur, Umred and Kamptee were won by Congress candidates. Nagpur 3 (SC), today’s North Nagpur, was the stronghold of Republican Party of India (RPI) while Nagpur 1, Nagpur 2 saw Independent candidates emerging as winners. Katol: Shankarrao Gedam of Congress stood victorious by meagre 410 votes. He had defeated Jivanlal Chandak, an Independent candidate. Gedam secure 25,511 votes while Chandak got 25,101 votes.
Kalmeshwar: Sheshrao Krishnarao Wankhede of Congress registered victory over his neares rival Indubhushan Bhagwantrao Bhingare (Independent) by a margin of over 9,000 votes. Wankhede secured 26,054 votes while Bhingare could get 16,467 votes. Saoner: Narendra Tidke of Congress secured 21,413 votes leaving his opponents Ramji Chimanji Naik (Independent) with 9,771 and Fatesingh Hansraj Thakur (CPI) with 5,983 votes. Ranchhoddas Asaram Gandhi contested on Jansangh ticket and secured 3,425 votes. Ramtek: Pathan Mohd Abdullakhan of Congress emerged victorious.
He got 11,840 votes. Vishnu Mahadev Dhoble, an Independent got 8,283 votes while Chaitram Pithuji Gajbhiye of RPI got 6,606 votes. Nagpur 1: This election witness emergence of Vasant Purushottam Sathe of Praja Samajvadi Party who later became right hand of Indira Gandhi. Though Sathe stood third, he could built his image through this election. Vinayak Sakharam Dandekar, an Independent candidate secured 30,643 votes. He defeated Madangopal Jodhraj Agrawal of Congress (15,191 votes). Shankarrao Sakharam Supare of Jansangh got 3,957 votes. Nagpur 2: Dhondbaji Dashrath Hedau, an Independent candidate secured 33,176 votes and defeated Pratapsingh Laxmanrao Bhosle of Congress who got 16,175 votes while Ramjeevan Faluram Chaudhari of Jansangh got 9,787 votes. Nagpur: This constituency witnessed contest between stalwarts.
Ardhendu Bhushan Hemendra Kumar Bardhan, who later on rose to became national President of Communist Party of India (CPI), had to accept borderline defeat at the hands of Sushila Balraj, another big leader from Congress. Bardhan secured 12,701 votes while Balraj clinched 12,859 votes. Govind Gopal Bhambulkar, an Independent candidate could secure 11,059 votes. Sumati Balkrishna Sukalikar, equally big leader contested election from Jansangh got 6,385 votes. Nagpur 3 (SC): D P Meshram of RPI emerged victorious after defeating his nearest rival Panjabrao Hukum Shambharkar by a margin of around 3,000 votes. Meshram secured 22,353 votes while Shambharkar got 19,428 votes. Umred: Damu Sadashiv Tarnekar of Congress won the seat by securing 13,428 votes. His nearest rival Rajaram Laxman Mahale, an Independent, got 7,398 votes. Kamptee: Congress always dominated elections in this constituency. Ananram Dayal Chaudhari of Congress stood victorious. He secured 20,036 votes while Bhalchandra Haribhau Sontakke of RPI scored 14,986 votes.
