* Disappointed
and furious over their respective parties dumping them, many aspirants
have switched over loyalties to get ticket of other parties
* Some of these candidates may withdraw, and the picture will be clearer on October 1
The Hitavada Team
One
party’s rebel is another party’s candidate. This is the simple ‘sutra’
that all major political parties have followed this time in Legislative
Assembly elections, which are being held against the backdrop of
state-wide political stirring caused by break-up of long-term alliances.
Of course, Vidarbha region is not left untouched by this
phenomenon. In Nagpur Division, which comprises six districts covering
32 Assembly constituencies, there is not a single district that has not
witnessed rebellion. There are 15 constituencies wherein rebels have
filed nomination papers either as candidates of other parties or as
Independents. Nagpur and Gondia districts have maximum four
constituencies each affected by the ‘rebel’ factor. However, it remains
to be seen how many of these ‘rebels’ clear the scrutiny of nomination
papers filled up in a hustle, and how many also stand the test till the
last date of withdrawal of nominations -- October 1. Only after that,
these may be termed as real ‘rebels’.
NAGPUR:
To place it on
record, as on Sunday, of a total 12 Assembly constituencies in Nagpur
district, four are witnessing rebellion. To put it other words for now,
some have ‘hopped’ on to other parties. The biggest such hopping has
taken place in Congress party in South Nagpur constituency, where
Congress has dumped its two-term MLA Dinanath Padole. Deeply hurt with
Congress’ treatment, Padole filed his nomination as Nationalist Congress
Party (NCP) candidate from the same constituency. He intends to fight
it out, and is considered a serious contestant.
In the same
constituency, Shiv Sena has dumped Shekhar Sawarbandhe, its District
President, and has fielded Kiran Pandav this time. An obviously angry
Sawarbandhe has filed nomination papers as an Independent candidate for
now.
In South-West Nagpur, Shiv Sena did not find suitable candidate
in its partyfold. Hence, it poached on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
leader Panju Totwani and gave him ticket. In rural area, Kamptee
constituency has witnessed rebellion from its strong leader Suresh
Bhoyar, who was President of Zilla Parishad (ZP) previously. Congress
has fielded Rajendra Mulak, former Minister of State, from this
constituency. Bhoyar has filed his papers as an Independent candidate.
Whether he withdraws at a later stage, remains to be seen.
In
Ramtek, BJP leader and former ZP member Yogesh Wadibhasme has filed
papers as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate. Similarly, Dwaram
Mallikarjun Reddy, who had contested as Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP)
candidate and finished third in 2009 elections, has now filed papers as
BJP candidate.
WARDHA:
In Wardha constituency, Sunita Ithape
of BJP has hopped on to Republican Party of India (Athawale) and filed
papers on Saturday. Another BJP leader Shyam Gaikwad also has filed
papers as Independent candidate from this constituency. Congress also is
facing a rebellion as Vijay Jaiswal has filed papers as Independent. In
Arvi constituency, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Sitaram Bhute
has gone against his party’s line of supporting BJP, and has filed
papers as Shiv Sena candidate. Against the backdrop of break-up of
alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena, and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana
joining BJP-fold, Bhute’s move could be termed as rebellion. Whether he
withdraws or continues with his candidature, will be clear on October 1.
BHANDARA:
This district is staring at two big rebels in
Tumsar constituency. Here, three-term MLA of BJP Madhukar Kukde has
filed papers as NCP candidate as he felt dumped by his party. There is
no relief for Congress also. Congress denied ticket to its incumbent MLA
Anil Bawankar. Angry over this, Bawankar also has filed papers as
Independent. Interestingly, BJP leader Rajendra Patle also is contesting
as Shiv Sena candidate. MNS worker Ganesh Dhande has crossed over to
All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) candidate.
GONDIA:
All four
constituencies in Gondia district are witnessing rebellion. In Tirora
constituency, BJP has dumped its incumbent MLA Dr Khushal Bopche, and
given ticket to sitting ZP member Vijay Rahangdale. This hass resulted
in another BJP worker Pancham Bisen hopping to Shiv Sena and filing
papers as the latter party’s candidate. This constituency is witnessing
another major hopping in Dilip Bansod. The former MLA of NCP has
rebelled and filed papers as an Independent candidate. Here, NCP has
given ticket to Rajlaxmi Turkar.
In Arjuni Morgaon constituency,
Kiran Kamble, a BJP rebel and sitting ZP member, is contesting as Shiv
Sena candidate. Congress leader Ratnadeep Dahiwale, who belonged to the
group led by former EGS Minister Dr Nitin Raut, was denied ticket by
Congress. As a result, on Saturday, he filed papers as an Independent
candidate. In Gondia proper, Congress leader Suresh Chauragade has filed
papers as AIFB candidate.
As far as Amgaon constituency is
concerned, BJP leader Sahasram Korote has filed papers as Independent
candidate while another BJP leader Ramesh Taram is candidate of NCP.
Interestingly, both are angry over BJP giving ticket to Sanjay Puram,
who had contested as previous elections as candidate of BSP and GGP.
CHANDRAPUR:
This
district has seen the biggest political shocker in Vidarbha region on
the last day of filing of nominations for Legislative Assembly election.
In Warora constituency, Congress denied ticket to former Environment
Minister Dr Sanjay Deotale, who has been getting elected from the
constituency for consecutive terms. As his name did not appear in the
list of candidates of Congress party released on Saturday early morning,
he proved true the long-time rumours of his joining BJP. On the last
moment, Deotale filed papers as BJP candidate, which surprised many and
shocked Congress.
In Chandrapur constituency, there were shockers
for BJP and Congress both, as their strong contenders for party tickets
joined previous alliance partners Shiv Sena and NCP. Shiv Sena poached
BJP leader Kishor Jorgewar, considered a close aide of BJP heavyweight
Sudhir Mungantiwar. NCP also did the same and fielded Congress leader
Ashok Nagpure as its candidate.
GADCHIROLI:
Gadchiroli has seen quite interesting developments in the past couple of days, with rebellion only in Congress fold.
After
being denied ticket by Congress, the incumbent MLA Dr Namdeo Usendi
made up his mind to contest as an Independent candidate and filed papers
accordingly. Another Congress leader Kesri Usendi, switched over
loyalty and filed papers as Shiv Sena candidate. One more Congress
leader Kusum Alam also shocked Congress after she filed papers as
BRP-BMS candidate. The rebellion in Congress is supposed to be a fallout
of the party fielding ‘Aheri-based outsider’ candidate Saguna Talandi
from Gadchiroli.
In Aheri, there is interesting ‘rebellion’ in home.
The incumbent Independent MLA Deepak Atram’s brother Santosh has filed
papers as Independent candidate.
Though the ‘rebellions’ and
‘hoppings’ are a result of last-minute finalisation of candidates and
dumping of sitting MLAs or strong contenders, whether they stand the
test of time, is the aspect to be seen. On October 1, if most of these
still remain in the fray, they are bound to add the element of ‘keen
interest’ to the contests in respective constituencies.
(With inputs from 'The Hitavada' correspondents at Wardha, Gondia, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, and Bhandara)
(28-09-14)
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