Kartik Lokhande's blog

* 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 tick...

Staff Reporter While the tangle over the ‘Mahayuti’ of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and other parties continues in Maharashtra ahead of Legislative Assembly polls, the leaders of BJP and Shiv Sena in Nagpur district want the 25-years-long alliance to remain intact. Soon after winning the elections to the posts of Zilla Parishad (ZP) President and Vice-President, the leaders of BJP and Shiv Sena from rural areas of the district felt that the alliance between the two parties always helped each other. They strongly advocated resolution of ‘whatever disputes’ between BJP and Shiv Sena, so that the ruling Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) could be dethroned from State Government. Krupal Tumane, Shiv Sena MP from Ramtek, told reporters that ‘Mahayuti’ should continue in State. “The pattern of co-operation adopted by workers of BJP and Shiv Sena in Nagpur Zilla Parishad, is ideal. We just hope that all the senior leaders of both the parties pay heed to ...

* BJP-Sena alliance snaps ties with NCP, attracts new allies in BSP and RPI By Kartik Lokhande As expected, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena alliance retained Nagpur Zilla Parishad (ZP). In the election held on Sunday, Nisha Sawarkar, BJP member from Chirwha-Dhanla circle in Mouda tehsil, polled 32 votes and got elected to the post of ZP President. Sharad Donekar, Shiv Sena member from Kanhan circle in Parseoni tehsil, also polled equal number of votes and became the new Vice-President. The elections to the posts of ZP chief and deputy were held in the shadow of Legislative Assembly elections scheduled next month. Against this backdrop, there were speculations if the erstwhile ruling coalition comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) would continue. In 58-member ZP house, BJP has 21 members, Congress has 19, Shiv Sena-- eight, NCP-- seven, and GGP, Republican Party of India (RPI), and Bahujan Samaj Party ...