Independents, new faces crowd the field in six Assembly segments

 

Split in the two regional parties of Maharashtra has opened flood gates in the poll arena. For, many who were denied tickets by the parties have decided to try their luck as Independents as never before enthusiasm prevails among the aspirants. A look at the first list put up by the District Administration post closure of nominations reveals a crowded poll field. En number of smaller parties have cropped-up and most surprisingly they have found the candidates thrown their hat in the political ring, least bothered by the fact that today fighting an election is an expensive affair. After first round of the scrutiny, only the candidature of Narendra Jichkar, contesting as an Independent from Nagpur West Assembly segment, has been kept on hold.

 

A list of candidates whose nominations were found eligible from the six Assembly segments in city and district is put on display at the Collectorate on Wednesday. Till November 4, the last date for withdrawal of candidature, the election field looks quite heavy as a lot of small parties and Independents have entered the fray. It remains to be seen as to how many of them remain serious about the contest as the main contenders as their parties are likely to work behind the scenes to fine tune the adjustment. While the main fight still remains between ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, their constituents including two factions of Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party, plus plenty of small parties are set to make the poll battle interesting. In Nagpur South-West about 13 contestants nomination forms were found valid.

 

This includes that of Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, Congress Praful Gudadhe, Surendra Dongre from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) plus four independents. Similarly, many other aspirants have filed forms from smaller and emerging parties including Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) that is trying to revive its fortunes. From Nagpur East about 23 candidates forms were and fight would be between sitting legislator Krishna Khopde from BJP and NCP (SP) Duneshwar Pethe, a new entrant in the big stage. However as of now with so many Congress activists entering the field, the path for Pethe it seems is riddled with many challenges. Prominent rebel Congressmen in fray include Purshottam Hazare and Tanaji Wanve, both former corporators, and Sangeeta Talmale. At Nagpur Central around 33 nominations were found valid as the battle royal is shaping up between BJP's former Mayor and current MLC Pravin Datke and last time runners-up Congress's Bunty Shelke. However presence of Ramesh Punekar, a Congress rebel, and plenty of independents and nominees of smaller parties vying for Halba and Muslims votes complicates the scene.

 

The Nagpur West is another battle that is attracting attention as sitting MLA and Congress nominee Vikas Thakre faces a determined BJP's Sudhakar Kohale. After scrutiny about 22 nominations were found valid. Narendra Jichkar faced Damocles Sword on his nomination as decision on the objection filed will be decided on Thursday. However for BJP the worrying factor is presence of Naresh Barde in the field as he was vying for the party ticket. From Nagpur North about 30 candidates are now in fray and mainly the fight is between old rivals sitting MLA Dr Nitin Raut and BJP's Dr Milind Mane. The contest may get interested as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has netted Manoj Sangole, ex-corporator from Congress, considering his popularity in his Prabhag. At Nagpur South now 24 candidates remains in fray as Mohan Mate from BJP and Girish Pandav from Congress again square off in what could be a repeat of last poll battle. The field is little crowded and so many candidates have filed nominations from smaller parties that are trying to make the mark at the hustings. 

 

 

 

Staff Reporter : A candidate from the Nagpur West Assembly Segment has raised an objection to the nomination papers of Narendra Jichkar, an expelled Congress leader contesting as an Independent. The plea over the objection raised will be heard by Returning Officer (RO) Vivek Salunke at 10 am on Thursday. Interestingly, the objection letter filed by Rajesh Gopale, dated October 27, was submitted on October 30, while Jichkar filed his nomination papers on October 28. This timeline suggests that Gopale had prepared the objection prior to Jichkar’s nomination. In his objection, Gopale alleged that Jichkar is the Director of M/s Anjanikrupa Logistics Private Ltd and holds a 50 per cent stake in the company, and is a government contractor. Gopale referenced various social media posts and distributed booklets from Jichkar to support his claims. In response, Jichkar asserted that he resigned from all positions within the company in September and refuted Gopale’s claims, stating, “There is no truth in the objections raised against my election application. I am no longer a government contractor. This tactic is being used out of fear of my candidacy and popularity.” 

 

 

 

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Ajit Pawar faction’s leader Abha Bijju Pande, on Wednesday, raised an objection over nomination form submitted by the seating from Nagpur East MLA Krishna Khopde who is contesting to retain the seat. Pande demanded the Returning Officer (RO) to reject the nomination form claiming improper information shared by Khopde in his poll affidavit. It may be noted that NCP is the ally of ‘Mahayuti’ but Pande, to vent her displeasure over denial of the ticket by the alliance, has filed her nomination from the same Assembly constituency (Nagpur East) as an Independent candidate. Pande, who is an ex-corporator and Member of Maharashtra State Women’s Commission, raising objection to Khopde’s nomination is nothing but a political stunt, say political pundits. In the objection letter to the Returning Officer of Nagpur East, Pande claimed that Khopde has submitted incomplete and defective affidavit (Form 26) under Rule 4 in breach of Statutory provisions of Section 33 of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951.

 

“Khopde has not submitted complete information in respect of Pending Criminal Cases as required to be disclosed in Para 5 of Part A of the affidavit,” claimed Pande. Pande also claimed that there are various criminal cases pending against Khopde but in the affidavit, while answering sub clause (e) “Whether charges have been framed? (mention YES or NO)”, the BJP candidate in his reply for certain criminal cases, declared that “Not Applicable”, where as the law mandates that it must be answered and mentioned either ‘YES’ or ‘No’. Pande alleged that Khopde gave misinformation about his contracts with government and any other public company. In the affidavit, Khopde again mentioned ‘Not Applicable’ instead of replying ‘YES’ or ‘NO’. Going through Khopde’s affidavit and claims raised by Pande, RO asked Khopde to reply all the alligations. Later, the RO rejected the objections raised by Pande and accepted the nomination of BJP’s seating MLA.