Nagpur: Rebel candidates from various parties are making news in Nagpur’s poll arena. As the Assembly election atmosphere intensifies, it’s unsurprising that most parties are grappling with internal dissent following their candidate announcements. With major political parties having declared their candidates, some rebels have emerged, filing nominations on Thursday, while others have collected forms at the Collectorate, signalling their potential to contest against their own party.
Abha Pande, Vice-President of Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) filed nomination papers as an Independent candidate from Nagpur East. It is known that NCP (Ajit Pawar) is a constituent of Mahayuti with Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena (Shinde) and its other two constituents. As a part of seat sharing, this seat went to BJP and obviously, the three-time MLA Krishna Khopde’s name was declared by his party for Nagpur East. Pande had long ago made up her mind that whether she would get a ticket or not, she would contest from East Nagpur.
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In the same constituency Maha Vikas Aaghadi too will have to face rebellion. For the first time any candidate from Nationalist Congress Party got candidature for this Assembly constituency in Nagpur city. Sharad Pawar faction of NCP gave its candidature to its city President Duneshwar Pethe. This has irked leaders in Congress who were expecting the seat.
Purushottam Hazare, a staunch supporter of Satish Chaturvedi was fielded by Congress in 2019 Assembly polls from Nagpur East. To everyone’s surprise, Hazare did well, though he was defeated by Khopde. Hazare succeeded in reducing the lead which shocked Khopde and BJP both who were expecting a huge margin. This time Hazare also expected ticket from the Party. But in the seat sharing of Maha Vikas Aaghadi, it went to NCP (SP). Hazare visited the Collectorate and collected the application nomination form. According to reports he is mulling over to file nomination as an Independent candidate.
Dr Milind Mane, ex-MLA of BJP too was visible in the premises of Collectorate. Reports said, he too has collected the application form. BJP has not declared the name of any candidate for North Nagpur constituency. Names of Dr Milind Mane, present General Secretary of BJP Sandip Gavai, Sandip Jadhav were doing rounds for this constituency. Dr Mane’s visit to the Collectorate could be a part of pressure tactics.
There is another case of rebellion in the form of Yadnyavalkya Jichkar, son of late Dr Shrikant Jichkar, former Minister. Jichkar is in the body of All India Congress Committee (AICC). Jichkar staked his claim on Katol constituency. According to Jichkar he had been working in this constituency and he is the most suitable candidate. But MVA gave this seat to NCP (SP). Jichkar said, if he doesn’t get the ticket he would contest as an Independent candidate.
