BJP’s Nago Ganar eyes third term as MLC, files nomination: Teachers’ polls

Staff Reporter

Nago Ganar, the Bharatiya Janata Party-supported candidate for Teachers’ constituency polls, submitted his nomination to Divisional Commissioner, on Thursday. Ganar’s is eyeing consecutive third term as MLC.

Ganar was accompanied by BJP’s Teachers’ polls head MLA Mohan Mate, ex-Mayor Sandip Joshi, District President Arvind Gajbhiye, Vidarbha Organising Secretary Dr Upendra Kothekar, ex-MLC Prof Anil Sole, Girish Vyas, Dr Kalpana Pande, Yogesh Ban, Ashwini Jichkar, Sunil Mitra, Ashok Dhote.

Talking to mediapersons after filing the papers, Ganar said, “I shall pursue the issue of old pension which is a very important and main issue. There is a provision in the Act by which the Government must implement the old pension. I am sure of registering victory based upon my work during my previous terms as MLC. People are talking about the division of votes as there are several candidates in the fray. My victory will not depend upon division of votes. My work will speak volumes.”

Along with Ganar, Dr Devendra Wankhede from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Satish Itkelwar, Trustee of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) and 16 others filed their nominations on Thursday.

Itkelwar’s name was sent to the State body of Nationalist Congress Party by its city unit. But with the announcement of name of Ganar by BJP, MVA found itself in a dilemma and hurriedly declared its support to Sena candidate.

Itkelwar, who filed nomination as an Independent, was accompanied by Prashant Pawar, office-bearer of NCP.

Dr Wankhede, who filed two nominations, challenged Ganar that he should refuse the candidature of BJP which had stopped old pension. He was accompanied by AAP office-bearers Jagjit Singh, Ashok Mishra, Amrish Sawarkar, Kavita Singal, Shankar Ingole, Bhushan Dhakulkar, Rajesh Bhoyar, Dr Shahid Ali Jafri and others.

By Thursday, 27 candidates have filed 43 nominations. Assistant Election Officer and Deputy Collector (General) Pradip Kulkarni said, “We have received nominations from all six districts under Nagpur division. The scrutiny of the applications will begin at 11 am on Friday.”