In Maharashtra’s Chandrapur, BJP hopes on PM popularity, Congress on sympathy wave; voters concerned of jobs
Known for its coal mines, Chandrapur seat has become a prestige issue for both the parties as it was the lone seat that Congress won in the 2019. Suresh Dhanorkar, however, passed away last year.
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PM Modi with CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis during a public meeting in Chandrapur, Monday. (ANI)An intense battle of ballot has unfolded in Chandrapur Lok Sabha constituency in Vidarbha region, where all eyes are on the face-off between BJP’s Sudhir Mungantiwar and Congress’s Pratibha Dhanorkar.
Known for its coal mines, Chandrapur seat has become a prestige issue for both the parties as it was the lone seat that Congress won in the 2019. Suresh Dhanorkar, however, passed away last year.
Dhanorkar is contesting to retain the seat won by her late husband Suresh Dhanorkar, who emerged as a giant killer in 2019 polls securing 5,59,507 votes and defeating four-time MP Hansraj Ahir, who got 5,14,744 votes.
To take back its lost ground, the BJP has fielded Sudhir Mungantiwar, a minister and six-term MLA from Chandrapur.
While Mungantiwar, on his part, is banking on the development agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ram Temple and the development work he has done in the Chandrapur district during his term as a minister, Dhanorkar is counting on sympathy votes along with the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s combined anti-BJP votes.
Six Assembly constituencies under Chandrapur LS seat
The Prime Minister had held his first poll rally in the state on Monday in Chandrapur, which will go to polls in the first phase on April 19.
Both Mungantiwar and Pratibha Dhanorkar are sitting MLAs from Warora and Ballarpur respectively. Pratibha has a strong base in Vani Arni area of the constituency too.
Both the candidates have begun a fierce door-to-door election campaigns.
While Dhanorkar had put out huge posters of herself across the district with a message terming BJP government as an “autocratic regime” and vote for her to save democracy, Mungantiwar is focussed on addressing small groups of people across the village within the district.
On a seat that Dhanorkar’s husband won last time with a margin of 44,763 votes, the locals are warming up for a close fight and feel that the situation on ground is not one-sided. However, for some, it will be an easy run for Mungantiwar, an outspoken orator with high face value and stature as compared to Dhanorkar, who is considered lesser popular and lightweight.
“People have seen my work over the past 30 years and during the time when I was the minister. I am working for the development of the district and even the state. I am following the development agenda that Prime Minister has given us. So I do not have to worry about winning and targetting opponents,” Mungantiwar told The Indian Express while campaigning in the Warora tehsil of Chandrapur.
Despite the challenge from Congress and combined MVA votes in favour of Dhanorkar, Mungantiwar says he is confident of his victory and based on popularity of PM Modi and positive feedback around him in the district.
In Chandrapur city, exactly opposite a newly inaugurated Chandrapur Congress office, a tea seller says Mungantiwar has high chance of winning considering his current ministerial position and his network in the district.
“It would be better if Sudhir Bhau(Mungantiwar) becomes MP of the constituency because he is from BJP which has now kept a target of winning over 370 seats and the constituency should be represented by the ruling party MP,” said the tea seller, who was backed by customers at the shop.
In Temburda village in Warora tehsil, however, several shopkeepers believe that Dhanorkar will have an easy run considering her and her late husband’s work coupled with the sympathy wave for her and the Kunbi caste equation. The constituency has around six lakh voters from the Kunbi community, to which Dhanorkar also belongs.
“Even as the wind is currently in favour of Mungantiwar, since he has a face value, if the Kunbi votes go in her favour, then the whole scenario could change,” said Raju Gawde, a shopkeeper in Temburda.
Situated at the eastern Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, Chandrapur shares border with Telangana state and is known for its coal mines, wildlife reserves, and historical sites.
The constituency has a total of 18.37 lakh voters.
Despite having huge mines and thermal and steel power plants along with the forest, the local residents say three issues matters them the most: pollution, employment and man -animal conflict which none of the governments could resolve and whoever wins should pay attention on it.
The issue of unemployment, which has been raised by the opposition is finding some resonance among the youth.
Vijay Gadve, a 21-year-old youth from Temburda village who is pursuing MA in Economics, said, “The government should first resolve the issue of unemployment of the district. We have completed our graduation but there are no jobs. Despite several steel and thermal plants and coal mines in the district, it is very difficult to find a job. After graduation, we are left with only two options either to go to Nagpur or Mumbai for job or do farming here.”
Dilip Gadve, another resident from Asala village, raised the man-animal conflict issue.
According to Gadve, they are facing difficulties in compensations for the damage caused by animals on the crops.
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