Flashback: Modi, Rahul, Sonia made it a point to visit Nagpur in 2013

NaMo, RaGa prelude to 2014 battle for ballot

* Chiefs of major parties including Sonia Gandhi (Congress), Rajnath Singh (BJP), Sharad Pawar (NCP) and Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena) made it a point to visit Nagpur charging up political atmosphere ahead of elections scheduled in 2014
* BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, and Congress’ likely Prime Ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi also made sure that their visit generated positive whiff of air for respective parties

By Kartik Lokhande
As the nation gears up for Lok Sabha election and Maharashtra for Legislative Assembly polls scheduled in 2014, Nagpur is attracting a lot of attention from all major parties that would matter in these ‘battles for ballot’.
The year 2013 saw top politicians from these parties making it a point to visit Nagpur, the focal point of Vidarbha’s politics. In the process, the Orange City also saw the prelude to 2014 polls in visits of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi (NaMo) and Congress’ likely Prime Ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi (RaGa).
When Narendra Modi visited Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters here in July, he was just elevated to the position of BJP’s Campaign Committee chief. His visit had come within days after that of BJP patriarch Lal Krishna Advani, who had resigned from all party posts in June after Modi was declared Campaign Committee chief of BJP for ensuing Lok Sabha polls. Both met RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat, who was instrumental in convincing Advani to withdraw resignation and continue working for BJP. Soon after, in September, Modi was declared Prime Ministerial candidate of BJP.
Though Modi did not pay any public visit to Nagpur later on, his name was in public discourse once again with his dream project ‘Statue of Unity’ being planned as a tribute to ‘Iron Man of India’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat. As a precursor to ‘Statue of Unity’, a ‘Run for Unity’ was organised across the country simultaneously and Nagpur was part of it. Through this event, Modi’s name was in discussion again.

Published in The Hitavada CityLine on December 31, 2013 as year-ender piece

Lok Sabha election in 2014 is being portrayed as a fight of mettle between Narendra Modi and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi. If Modi visited Nagpur and BJP started consolidating its strength in Vidarbha region by elevating its bright young MLA Devendra Fadnavis to the position of its Maharashtra unit chief, how could Congress stay behind? Rahul Gandhi also paid a high-profile visit to Nagpur in September, the month in which Modi was declared BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate. Rahul Gandhi interacted with party workers from various parts of Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Khandesh regions of Maharashtra, in a high-profile programme held at Suraburdi Meadows. Congress leaders claimed that Rahulji’s visit revitalised the party organisation, and that workers started gearing up for the battles of Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly in 2014.
Sonia Gandhi, Congress chief and chairperson of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) that rules the Centre, also made it a point to visit Nagpur in November. The visits of two highest power profiles of Congress to the city within a span of two months -- Rahul Gandhi for organisational strengthening and Sonia Gandhi for a public meeting -- created a different atmosphere in Vidarbha region.
Congress’ plan to strengthen party network in Vidarbha became amply clear with frequent visits of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to Nagpur. Interestingly, these visits became more frequent when former National President of BJP Nitin Gadkari made no reservations about his desire to contest Lok Sabha election from Nagpur constituency. Chavan tried to woo the region by making several announcements -- expediting land acquisition for MIHAN project, Rs 1,200 crore rehabilitation package in case of Gosikhurd irrigation project, trying to attract investment to region through ‘Advantage Vidarbha’ summit etc.
When Congress and BJP could do it, NCP could not remain behind. NCP chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar also frequented the region. He visited Nagpur and nearby areas following excessive rainfall and floods damaging crops and infrastructure in the region. This time, his visit was in the capacity of Union Agriculture Minister. Later, in November, he announced a flood relief package of Rs 861 crore for Vidarbha. On another occasion, earlier this year, he visited Vidarbha to attend bhoomipujan programme of power equipment fabrication plant of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) at Mundipar in Bhandara district, in constituency of Union Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel. NCP tried to make in-roads in Vidarbha through visits of its prominent leaders ranging from Sharad Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, MP Supriya Sule to PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and others.
Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) also tried to make their presence felt through visits, though not so frequent, of their leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray. Uddhav’s visit came after demise of his father and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray earlier this year. His assertion that Shiv Sena would contest Ramtek Lok Sabha seat also bears significance considering the secret desire of BJP to wrest that seat from its old-time ally.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray visited the region twice in the year. On one occasion, he visited Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and hand over Rs 5 lakh reward to 12 police and forest personnel who saved tiger and helped nab poachers. On another, he was in Nagpur to present Prabodhankar Thackeray Award to ‘Gramgeetacharya’ Ramkrishna Dada Belurkar. However, on both occasions, he did not talk much of politics and his party’s preparations for ensuing polls vis-a-vis Vidarbha region.
The year saw one more interesting political development -- growth in membership of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after its spectacular success in Delhi Assembly poll. The local unit of AAP had come into being long back but its membership was not much. Its office-bearers here had started visiting different areas and conducting corner meetings to raise issues concerning people -- problems with 24x7 water supply, corruption etc. However, after the party tasted success in Delhi, its local unit attracted highly educated people. There were talks that AAP activist Anjali Damania might contest Lok Sabha poll from Nagpur constituency against BJP’s stalwart Nitin Gadkari. Whether the party gains any foothold in ensuing polls, remains to be seen. 

BJP’s Campaign Committee chief Narendra Modi visited the city to meet RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat. Within a couple of months, he was declared Prime Ministerial candidate of the party. (All pics by Satish Raut)

Vice-President of Congress party Rahul Gandhi interacted with the party workers, setting the tone for Lok Sabha poll scheduled in 2014, in a meeting held at Suraburdi Meadows here.

BJP patriarch L K Advani visited RSS headquarters here to discuss the situation ahead of Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the country. His visit was in news as it came after he revoked his resignation, which he had tendered following the elevation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as BJP’s Campaign Committee chief.

In November, after her son’s interaction with party workers, UPA chairperson and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi also paid a visit to the city to launch revised Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana in Maharashtra. Visits of two highest power profiles of the party indicated that the party was concentrating more on Vidarbha region ahead of polls next year.

BJP witnessed a change of guard with Rajnath Singh taking over as National President of the party once again, after Nagpur stalwart Nitin Gadkari resigning from the post. Soon after taking charge, Rajnath Singh paid a visit to RSS headquarters in the city, and was welcomed by party workers with Gadkari.

Union Agriculture Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar also concentrated on Vidarbha region through regular visits in 2013. During one such visit, he met old-time confidante and now Congress MP Datta Meghe.

South-West Nagpur MLA Devendra Fadnavis replaced Ballarpur MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar as BJP’s Maharashtra unit President. MLC and senior BJP leader Shobhatai Fadnavis and Devendra’s wife Amruta were happy to offer him sweets soon after his elevation. He vowed to transform BJP with his energy and vision.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray visited the city and addressed a convention of party workers, to send a clear message that the party was there to stay even after demise of its founder Bal Thackeray.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray also visited the city twice, but did not make any significant statement on his party’s preparations in Vidarbha for Legislative Assembly polls scheduled in 2014.

Aam Aadmi Party’s spectacular rise to power in Delhi Assembly poll this year, saw celebrations and strengthening of its local unit here. The victory in Delhi saw its membership increasing in Nagpur.