The political equations with regards to upcoming State Assembly polls will become clear on Monday, the date of withdrawal of nominations. There are some rebels within the alliances. The leaders are trying their best to convince the rebels to withdraw. Monday will decide finally how many candidates remain in fray. In Nagpur district, there are 12 constituencies and in almost every constituency, there is presence of at least one rebel candidate. Duneshwar Pethe made a debut in Nagpur city when Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) succeeded in clinching the seat for the party. As the seat went to NCP, the Maha Vikas Aaghadi (MVA) experienced rebellion as Purushottam Hazare and Tanaji Wanve of Congress filed their nominations as Independents. Similarly Mahayuti is facing rebellion as Abha Pandey, the State Vice-President of NCP (Ajit Pawar) filed nomination as Independent. The respective parties will try to convince rebel candidates to withdraw their nominations.

 

There is one more prominent rebel candidate-- Ramesh Punekar. Punekar is with Congress and belongs to Halba community. This time, Halbas and Muslims had demanded their candidate but Congress did not pay heed to them. Congress is trying to convince Punekar to withdraw. In Nagpur West, Mahayuti is having headache in the form of Naresh Barde. Barde is an office-bearer of BJP who has filed his nominations from this constituency. All the leaders are taking efforts to make Barde to withdraw. Meanwhile, Narendra Jichkar, who has been doing work in this constituency, is giving headache to Congress candidate Vikas Thakre. In North Nagpur, the candidature of Buddham Raut and Manoj Sangole is creating trouble for Dr Nitin Raut, ex-Minister and sitting MLA.

 

Buddham Raut’s candidature was already declared by BSP. But somehow, Sangole filed nominaton from this constituency with AB form given by BSP. Sangole is originally a Congress Corporator who can create problem for Dr Raut. Secondly, Budham Raut too is feeling disappointed as he did not get the ticket from BSP. In Ramtek, MVA is trying to convince fellow Congressman Rajendra Mulak to withdraw his candidature, who did not get ticket as was expected. Vishal Barbate is the candidate of MVA from this constituency. In Umred, Raju Parve who has filed nomination as an Independent candidate can prove to be a headache for Mahayuti. BJP’s Sudhir Parve is Mahayuti’s candidate. MVA has fielded Congress’ Sanjay Meshram. In Hingna, Sunil Kedar supported candidature of Ujwala Wodhare, who may trouble Ramesh Bang, an official candidate of MVA. Bang is a loyal worker of NCP. In Katol, the candidature of Yadnyavalkya Jichkar, son of Dr Shrikant Jichkar and All India Congress Committee member, will put Salil Deshmukh, official candidate of MVA, in difficulty. Political parties may heave a sigh of relief if the rebels withdraw from the fray.