MVA partners not on the same page

 

 

 

With Dr Ravindra alias Chhotu Bhoyar of Congress deciding to stay put, the polls of Maharashtra Legislative Council for Nagpur Local Authority Constituency are set to be a keenly fought contest. Political pundits are of the view that the fight is to be David (Bhoyar) Vs Goliath (Chandrashekhar Bawankule of Bharatiya Janata Party -- BJP). According to reliable sources, the Mahavikas Aaghadi (MVA) partners are not on the same page and even in Congress that has fielded newly-inducted Bhoyar there are factions. The so-called unity was visible on the day when Bhoyar filed his nomination. But there was just one leader from Shiv Sena -- Ramtek MP Krupal Tumane who accompanied Bhoyar along with Congress leaders during the submission of nomination papers, rest were ‘invisible’. Congress leaders also came in factions. Surprisingly, there was no leader from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) present at the Collectorate to back Bhoyar. Chhotu Bhoyar is fully confident of winning the elections with a thumping majority. According to Bhoyar, “Congress was never united like this before.”

 

“When the elections in other parts of Maharashtra had unanimity, the leaders of Congress in Nagpur, including Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole, Minister Sunil Kedar, Adv Abhijit Wanjari, Vikas Thakre, Rajendra Mulak, Raju Parwe told me not to withdraw the candidature. I haven’t seen such a unity in BJP. They all assured me that they would spend the money for me as it is their election too. I am winning the elections at any cost,” said confident Bhoyar. Bhoyar is sure of Kedar supporting him to garner maximum votes from rural, of the 407, for him. Bhoyar is confident of getting 85 votes from the urban areas. What Bhoyar said is his assumption but the reality is different. ‘The Hitavada’ tried to connect with most leaders from Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena. NCP and Sena leaders at least officially said that they would be with Bhoyar, but most stalwart leaders in Congress expressed their reservations about the victory of Bhoyar. Some felt this election chalked out by Sunil Kedar and Nana Patole who did not take party leaders into confidence while confirming the candidature of Bhoyar.

 

This is a clear ditch to the loyalists who have been working for party for the last several years. NCP and Shiv Sena also have similar feeling. Not a single Congress leader invited them during the filing of nomination papers. According to some Congress leaders, the party should have fielded either Praful Gudadhe or Rajendra Mulak who are looking after the Party’s responsibility since long. In fact, this year’s Lok Sabha elections of Nana Patole were ably handled by Gudadhe. Though nobody had thought Patole would be in the contest opposite BJP’s Nitin Gadkari, he fetched over 4.5o lakh votes. According to sources, Gudadhe had played a major role in helping Patole secure those many votes. But Gudadhe was sidelined by Patole.

 

There are several things those have taken place due to which Congressmen are not very much satisfied. Most have lost faith in the party leadership. Against this backdrop will they unite and stand with Bhoyar will be interested to watch. Though Sena and NCP would not say anything against the polls officially, their stand has no clarity as far as support to Bhoyar is concerned.