In Dindori, the flag of rebellion by Harishchandra Chavan and JP Gavit spoils pitch for BJP and NCP (SP)

Spread across the six Assembly seats of Nandgaon, Kalvan, Chandwad, Yeola, Niphad, and Dindori, the Lok Sabha constituency is a study in contrast. It contains two of the country’s biggest onion markets — Lasalgaon and Pimpalgaon — and is also home to the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd factory. It is also the home to some of the poorest tribes in Maharashtra.

Dindori has also been a story of political expediency and electoral compulsions. In 2019, the BJP decided to give a ticket to Dr Bharti Pawar, after she resigned from the NCP, dropping three-time MP Harishchandra Pawar. Pawar won the elections and was soon awarded a berth in the Central Cabinet. Her national prominence hastened the sidelining of Harishchandra Pawar within the BJP.

On the other hand, J P Gavit contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections drawing over one lakh votes. Gavit has been allied with the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi and there were talks that his son Indrajeet would be fielded as an MVA candidate. However, with the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) nominating Bhaskar Bhagare from the Dindori Lok Sabha seat, it has further queered the poll pitch.

Hurt over their gradual sidelining, both Gavit and Pawar have toughened their stance.

“I have made a lot of efforts in strengthening the BJP in this area when it was not a formidable political force. It was my groundwork that helped the party retain the seat for these many times. The party, however, has forgotten leaders like me. Over the last five years a lot of injustice has been meted out to workers,” Harishchandra Pawar said.

While Gavit had earlier said he would support the MVA, the CPI (M) leader on Saturday held a massive show of strength in Dindori stating that he would contest the elections.

“I will fight the elections irrespective of whether the MVA gives me a ticket or not. We will fight elections under the CPI (M) banner,” said Gavit, who is known for his frugal lifestyle and willingness to sleep in the rough while fighting for tribal rights.

While the MVA has been trying to reach out and pacify Gavit knowing his capacity to divide the tribal vote, many local NCP (SP) leaders feel the Left leader is trying to keep the party on tenterhooks and extract his pound of flesh to ensure his victory in the Assembly elections slated later this year.

While leaders acknowledge that the signalling by the two experienced leaders that they would fight the Lok Sabha election 2024 is a political stratagem to further their careers, their banner of revolt has been a cause of concern for both the opposing political camps.

Dindori will go to the polls on May 20 and the last day for filing nominations is May 3.