Congress clinched 9/11, Forward Bloc and RPI too register victory

NAGPUR DISTRICT Though two factions of Congress contested the Maharashtra State Assembly elections the one with Indira Gandhi won 9 out of 11 seats in Nagpur district. Republican Party (Khobragade) and All India Forward Bloc registered one win each. Jansangh was changed to Janata Party and Sumatitai Sukalikar continued her performance in West Nagpur while her opponent Sushila Balraj who joined Bharatiya Rashtriya Congress, and lost the elections in the same constituency. Umred: The Congress that went with Indira Gandhi was named as Congress (I). Purushottam Mansaram Dekate of Congress (I) won the election by a huge margin.

He secured 43,172 votes while his nearest rival Shravan Domaji Darne, an Independent could secure 12,527 votes. Kamptee: In Kamptee also Congress (I) scored victory by a good margin. Tejsingrao Bhonsale of Congress (I) got 41,581 votes while his nearest rival Rajani Kaushalprasad Rai from Republican Party (Khobragade) could garner 16,090 votes.

The same Rajani Rai, the ex-Principal of Nagpur’s famous LAD College later on joined Bharatiya Janata Party. Considered as very dignified and learned lady, Dr Rajani Rai was given the responsibility of General Secretary of Party’s Women Wing. She later on became the Lft. Governor of Pondicherry. Narayanrao Haribhau Kumbhare, father of present fiery leader of Republican Party Adv Sulekha Kumbhare too gave a tough fight. He built this constituency brick by brick which benefitted his daughter. Nagpur North (SC): Adv Suryakant Dongre of RPI (K) who could secure 16,123 votes and stood at number 3 in 1972 elections kept his touch with the constituency. In 1978, he emerged as winner defeating Balkrishna Ramkrishna Wasnik of Congress (I). Adv Dongre got 34,598 votes while Wasnik got 32,121 votes.

Daulatrao Husanji Ganvir who had won the elections from Congress could muster 3,560 votes in 1978 elections. He parted with Bhartiya Rashtriya Congress and contested election from that party. Nagpur East: Banwarilal Purohit, won the election by a huge margin of over 43,000 votes. While Purohit who contested election from Congress (I) secured 56,752 votes, his nearest rival Prabhakar Natthu Lende, an Independent candidate could garner only 12,023 votes. Nagpur South: This constituency witnessed many candidates that became celebrities later on. Govindrao Marotrao Wanjari of Congress (I) defeated Ramanand Devaji Dhepe of RPI (K) candidate by over 17,000 votes. Wanjari secured 45,025 votes while Dhepe got 27,368 votes. Madangopal Jodhraj Agrawal of Bhartiya Rashtriya Congress could muster 2,809 votes. Candidates like Umeshchandra Dayashankar Chaube, Wamanrao Sakharam Nimbalkar later on earned good names in society. Nagpur Central: Bhausaheb Sitaram Surve of Congress (I) stood victorious with 30,650 votes. He defeated Ram Hedau of Janata Party by a margin of mere some 2,000 plus votes. Hedau got 27,047 votes.

Navalchand G Tokasia of Congress who had won the 1972 election by a good margin of around 18,000 votes had to remain contented in 1978 with 873 votes. He contested 1978 election as an Independent candidate. There is one more interesting aspect of this election. Ram Hedau who had contested last election from All India Forward Block from Nagpur East and had to face defeat at the hands of Narendra Deoghare by a narrow margin, this time contested from Janata Party. Nagpur West: Sushila Balraj who had registered hat-trick of victory from this constituency in 1972 had to bite the dust. She contested elections from Bhartiya Rashtriya Congress. Balaraj could get 5,072 votes. Bhaurao Govindrao Mulak of Congress (I) emerged as winner with 45,625 votes. Sumatitai Sukalikar kept his performance improving. She secured 33,531 votes much better than what she got in 1972--20,896 votes. Kalmeshwar: Bhagwantrao Gaikwad who had contested last election from Central Nagpur on the ticket of All India Forward Block, got himself shifted to Kalmeshwar. In Central Nagpur he was defeated by Navalchand G Tokasia of Congress.

In Kalmeshwar he succeeded as he won the election by over 43,000. His nearest rival Chandrashekhar Santoshrao Wankhede of Janata Party could garner 11,879 votes while Sheshrao Krishnarao Wankhede who had defeated Jambuvantrao Dhote of All India Forward Block in 1972 had to accept defeat. Bhartiya Rashtriya Congress had fielded him. Gaikwad got 55,202 votes while Sheshrao Wankhede could garner 8,218 votes. Katol: Mukundrao Govindrao Mankar of Congress (I) won the election by securing 36,800 votes. His nearest rival Motiram Gulabrao Pawde of Janata Party got 22,207 votes. Pawde was defeated by Shankarrao Gedam in 1972 elections but his performance was better then. Shankarrao Gedam who contested election from Bhartiya Rashtriya Congress was thrown on number 4. Saoner: Though this election won by Ramji Chiman Naik of Congress (I) defeating Shankarrao Ramchandrarao Fatte of Janata Party, it also witnessed the emergence of Kedar family. Chhatrapal Anandrao Kedar contested from Bhartiya Rashtriya Congress garnered 13,078 votes. Naik got 37,028 votes while Fatte could secure 24,034 votes. Ramtek: Gunderao Fakiraji Mahajan of Congress (I) again defeated Pandurang Hazare, this time by narrow margin of over 4,000 votes. He had defeated Hazare in 1972 elections too. Hazare then was fielded by All India Forward Block. In 1978 Hazare was chosen by Janata Party. Pandurang Hazare secured 23,350 votes while Mahajan got 28,535 votes.