The biggest political event of the year for Nagpur was the victory of Adv Abhijit Wanjari who won the Graduates’ polls with a thumping majority. The victory is being treated as the historic because this constituency was the stronghold of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This time with the victory of Adv Wanjari the thought process of Congress at Nagpur got changed completely. Nobody had ever thought that Adv Wanjari would win the polls. But his strategy of calculated campaign, experience of university politics, applying lessons he learnt from the past proved everybody wrong. With his disposition he did not have animosity with anybody so obviously Congress became united. Though the victory is being termed as the unity of Mahavikas Aaghadi, it does not seem so. Krupal Tumane, the Shiv Sena MP was the only person from that party stood by Adv Wanjari. The contribution of Nationalist Congress Party was zero. No leader except Anil Deshmukh, Home Minister, at local level seemed active.

 

While NCP because of lack of leadership at city level is still struggling, Shiv Sena tried to put life into its city unit by roping in Dushyant Chaturvedi, son of former Minister Satish Chaturvedi. Dushyant who became MLC winning local body election was given the charge of Contact head of Nagpur. Chaturvedi changed the old body of city and vowed to win municipal elections 2022. It will remains to be seen what miracle he would do as Sena was never an influential in civic body elections.

 

Unfortunately no attention is being paid to the NCP at Nagpur by its state leaders including Sharad Pawar, its Supremo. Fadnavis’ role in Bihar and Telangana Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra’s former Chief Minister on whose shoulder the responsibility of Bihar assembly and Hyderbad Municipal Corporation polls was bestowed, brought victory for BJP. Everybody knows what happened in Bihar and same is the case at Hyderabad Municipal Corporation polls. Datke becomes MLC Pravin Datke, the President of Bharatiya Janata Party and firebrand leader became MLC. Datke has been playing major roles in city politics. Started his career with Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Datke entered in Municipal politics, rose to became Mayor.

 

He is a staunch volunteer and is carrying legcy of his late father Prabhakarrao Datke who too was known for his leadership. Emergence of Kedar The Graduates polls witnessed the emergence of Sunil Kedar, the ‘Dabang’ politician. It is said that it was Kedar who applied all the fundamentals of electoral campaign to clinch victory for Adv Abhijit Wanjari in Graduates’ polls. Similarly he played a key role in Nagpur Zilla Parishad (ZP) elections too which were held after seven years.

 

Kedar was instrumental in finishing the BJP’s power in ZP. Congress won 30 out of 58 seats in ZP elections. Rashmi Barve, a Congress candidate became the President of ZP. With these victories, some leaders in Congress circle are of the view that Kedar should be given the baton of Congress leadership in State. Kedar too has convened a meeting of senior functionaries regarding civic body elections 2022. n