Multi-cornered contest for Ramtek seat

* Shiv Sena’s lone MLA from Nagpur district Ashish Jaiswal is seeking fourth consecutive term, but he is locked in multi-cornered contest with BJP, Congress, NCP candidates
By Kartik Lokhande 
Ramtek is one constituency in Nagpur district that has elected candidate of BJP’s predecessor Janata Party and BJP’s long-term ally (now estranged) Shiv Sena both. Since 1999, Ramtek has been patronising Shiv Sena candidate Ashish Jaiswal. This time, he is looking forward to securing fourth consecutive term as MLA from this constituency. However, with break-up of major alliances, Jaiswal is locked in multi-cornered contest this time.
If one takes a look at the results of previous elections to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly since 1962, Ramtek has mostly preferred one candidate more than once. Barring the candidates elected in 1962 and 1995, the constituency has always re-elected others for consecutive terms. Gunderao Mahajan of Congress, Pandurang Hazare who contested on ticket of various parties, and Ashish Jaiswal of Shiv Sena have been re-elected more than once.
Whether Ashish Jaiswal creates history by getting elected to fourth consecutive term remains to be seen. If he succeeds in that, it will be a prestige point for Shiv Sena to retain the only constituency in Nagpur district with it for such a long period of time. Jaiswal’s young age, active participation in various agitations and grip in certain Zilla Parishad circles as well as firm grip over Ramtek Municipal Council -- where 14 out of total 17 members are of Shiv Sena -- are his plus points. However, he has been getting support of BJP workers in BJP-Sena alliance in all his three terms so far.
As far as BJP is concerned, it has its network in Ramtek constituency. Since 1962, BJP’s predecessor Jan Sangh, Bharatiya Jan Sangh, Janata Party contested various elections and candidates finished fourth. Pandurang Hazare, who contested as an Independent in 1967 and later as All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) candidate in 1972, contested as Janata Party candidate in 1978. He polled 23,350 votes and finished second, which was the closest that BJP’s predecessor reached till then. In 1985, Janata Party (that later became Bharatiya Janata Party) tasted its first success in Ramtek when its candidate Pandurang Hazare defeated Congress’ sitting MLA Madhukar Kimmatkar by a margin of 5,288 votes.
However, before the next Assembly elections held in 1990, BJP trucked with Shiv Sena. In seat-sharing, BJP left Ramtek seat for Shiv Sena. As a result, Pandurang Hazare contested on ticket of Janata Dal and won the election. Whereas, Shiv Sena’s debutant candidate Prakash Jadhao polled only 9,597 votes and finished fourth. Disappointed with this, Shiv Sena left the seat for BJP in 1995 election. Once again, Pandurang Hazare contested on ticket of BJP, but this time he finished a dismal third. Independent candidate Ashokkumar Gujar won the election by defeating Anandrao Deshmukh of Congress.
After much thought, in 1999, BJP decided to give another chance to Shiv Sena in Ramtek. Shiv Sena fielded a young face Ashish Jaiswal, and this clicked. Jaiswal defeated Anandrao Deshmukh of Congress. In 1999, Congress and NCP had contested independently and NCP candidate Sadanand Nimkar finished third. Realising that division of votes was detrimental, Congress and NCP joined hands after the election. In 2004, Shiv Sena’s Ashish Jaiswal won. He got benefited from division of votes between Congress rebel Madhukar Kimmatkar and Congress’ official candidate Chandrapal Chauksey. In 2009, Jaiswal faced former Shiv Sena leader and now Congress candidate Subodh Mohite, but the latter got defeated.
This time, BJP and Shiv Sena both are contesting separately, and so are Congress and NCP. Jaiswal is facing tough contest from BJP candidate D Mallikarjun Reddy, who has created his own vote bank also over the years. Reddy first contested as an Independent from Ramtek in 2004 Assembly eletion. He polled a handsome 21,291 votes to finish fourth. Despite finishing fourth, Reddy kept on building up on his network and expanding his reach in Ramtek constituency. In 2009, Reddy contested on ticket of Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) and polled 34,304 votes. This time, he got elevated to third position. Now, Reddy has got ticket of BJP and GGP has extended its support to him. This has strengthened Reddy and posed a tough challenge for Jaiswal.
Of course, there is a multi-cornered contest this time. Congress has fielded Subodh Mohite once again. Formerly a Shiv Sena leader, he was Union Minister during BJP-led NDA Government. Later on, he joined Congress. However, as per local reports, he had not been in very regular touch with the electorate. Still, with Congress organisation working unitedly, he may have an advantage. But, for him, there is another factor to worry about. NCP has fielded Dr Amol Deshmukh, son of senior Congress leader Ranjit Deshmukh. Being son of a senior Congress leader, Dr Amol Deshmukh is likely to dent the vote-share of Mohite and this division may help either BJP or Shiv Sena candidate.
There are two more candidates also. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has fielded Yogesh Wadibhasme, who was former activist of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and former Zilla Parishad member of BJP. He has got network in some pockets. However, how far can he dent the prospects of BJP candidate is not clear as Wadibhasme does not have wide network. MNS also does not have a good network. In 2009, MNS candidate Rajesh Thakre had polled only 1,167 votes. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded Vishesh Futane and he may get cadre votes of the party, and these votes may damage the prospects of Congress or NCP candidates.
As far as the electorate is concerned, in the previous election held in 2009, there were a total of 2,37,560 voters in Ramtek constituency. Of 1,53,576 valid votes, Ashish Jaiswal polled 49,937 (32.52 per cent) and emerged winner. This time, Ramtek has a total of 2,47,328 voters. In the Lok Sabha election held earlier this year, Shiv Sena candidate Krupal Tumane had emerged victorious and had got a lead of 35,885 in Ramtek segment alone while Congress heavyweight Mukul Wasnik had got a lead of mere 829 votes. However, between Lok Sabha election and Assembly election being held now, BJP and Shiv Sena have parted ways. Then, BJP workers also had campaigned for BJP-Sena alliance candidate Tumane in Ramtek and had popularised Sena’s party symbol. This is the only aspect that BJP will have to take care of, to enhance the prospects of its candidate Reddy. 

Published in The Hitavada CityLine on October 9, 2014