First-timers to fight it out in Warora-Bhadravati Kunbi votes could be decisive factor in this constituency

 

 

After the untimely exit of political bigwigs such as MLA Moreshwar Temurde, MP Balu Dhanorkar and MLA Sanjay Deotale, the Warora-Bhadravati Assembly constituency is like a clean slate with all candidates from prominent parties contesting for the first time. Thus, election in this constituency would be a battle between the first-timers. The constituency has 18 candidates who would test their chances on November 20 and 2,81,068 voters would seal their fates. In 2014, Shiv Sena’s Balu Dhanorkar had defeated sitting MLA from the BJP, Sanjay Deotale by a slender margin of 2,004 votes. In 2019, Dhanorkar left the Shiv Sena for Congress and bagged the ticket to Lok Sabha polls. Dhanorkar went on to become an MP.

 

 

On the other hand, Sanjay Deotale left BJP and joined Shiv Sena, but once against faced defeat in the Assembly election, this time at the hands of Pratibha Suresh Dhanorkar. She had fought on a Congress ticket and won by 10,200 votes. This time, she too is off the fray having won the Lok Sabha election of 2024. This time round, the BJP chose Karan Deotale for Warora-Bhadravati Assembly constituency. Ramesh Rajurkar withdrew his nomination while Raju Gaikwad, former ZP member, stayed in the fray. Ahte-shyam Ali, former Municipal Council President from these BJP has got Prahar Janshakti Party’s ticket this time. Many believe that Gaikwad and Ali would pose the biggest challenge to Deotale. Meanwhile, Pratibha Dhanorkar fielded her brother Pravin Kakade from the Congress while Anil Dhanorkar, former Civic Chief of Bhadravati and elder brother of late Balu Dhanorkar, is contesting on Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi ticket.

 

Dr Chetan Khutemate, who also belongs to Kunbi community, is contesting as an Independent. Dhanorkar and Khutemate have the upper hand as far as caste factor is concerned as the constituency is Kunbi-dominant. Then there is Mukesh Jivtode, former Shiv Sena (UBT) district chief who is now fight as an Independent as the ticket has gone to MVA quota. He took banking on his Kunbi credentials and also enjoys good connect in the constituency. Ahteshyam Ali has been preparing for the election since long time and has carried out extensive tours in rural areas. He is eyeing minority and dalit votes. Dr Chetan Khutemate, though new in constituency, built his public contact by organising numerous eye check-up camps and taking up social projects. Pravin Sur of the MNS and Raju Gaikwad, both former Zilla Parishad members, are the other in the fray. In face of the internal differences, it will be interesting to see how alliance partners of MahaVikas Aghadi and Mahayuti work for their candidates. Political pundits predict that it won’t be smooth sailing for any candidate this time.