Battleground Jalgaon | Crop distress, unemployment, infra issues: Challenges loom for BJP in its stronghold

In the recently held Lok Sabha elections, the Mahayuti suffered a setback in North Maharashtra, losing six out of eight seats. However, the victories in Jalgaon and Raver were critical in softening the blow and maintaining a foothold in the region. Despite its strength in the district — two sitting MPs and 11 MLAs — the BJP faces a tough challenge in the upcoming Assembly elections.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the NCP, Shiv Sena UBT, Congress, and SP, will be keen on making inroads into this BJP stronghold. The Congress, in particular, is focused on reclaiming the Raver seat, which it won in the 2019 Assembly elections.

Key candidates

The Congress has fielded Dhananjay Chaudhari, the 25-year-old son of the incumbent Raver MLA Shirish Chaudhari, against BJP’s Amol Jawale, the son of BJP MP Haribhau Jawale. Dhananjay, one of the youngest candidates in the fray, is confident of his chances, citing the growing discontent with the ruling party’s policies.

Meanwhile, the MVA is fielding several prominent candidates, including Rohini Khadse, daughter of former BJP heavyweight Eknath Khadse, who has joined the NCP after a split with the BJP. Rohini is contesting in Muktai Nagar against Shiv Sena’s Chandrakant Patil. In Chalisgaon, former BJP MP Unmesh Patil is running under the Sena UBT banner against incumbent MLA Mangesh Chavan.
In Jamner, BJP minister Girish Mahajan faces a tough challenge from former BJP associate and NCP (SP) candidate Dilip Khodpe. Mahajan, who is running for a seventh term, is confident of his re-election, pointing to the development work done by the BJP in the region.

Jalgaon stronghold

Girish Mahajan, speaking at a rally in Jamner, asserted that the BJP’s dominance in the district will continue. “Jalgaon is a stronghold of the BJP-Mahayuti. We’ve won 10 out of 11 seats, and this time we aim to win all 11 seats. The people have seen our work, and there is no anti-incumbency. They will vote for us,” Mahajan said.

The district’s backing for the ruling alliance is rooted in several factors, including the influence of BJP and Shiv Sena cadres, the RSS network, and the presence of key figures like Mahajan, Sena Minister Gulabrao Patil, and NCP Minister Anil Bhaidas Patil.
However, issues like the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops such as cotton, onions, and soybeans, the imposition of GST, and the import of milk and cotton despite local production, have left many farmers dissatisfied with the BJP government.
“The government is importing cotton and milk despite large local production. Our produce is stuck in godowns, and the government is bringing in imports. Instead of offering freebies, they should ensure fair prices for our crops,” said Ravi Borse, a cotton farmer from Pachora.

Unemployment concerns

Young voters, too, are disillusioned. Amol Sangle, a 25-year-old graduate from a farming family, echoed concerns about the lack of job opportunities. “There are no industries here, and even our agricultural products are not fetching good prices. The government must focus on providing employment and supporting local industries instead of offering just freebies,” he said.

Khadse challenge

A significant hurdle for the BJP could come from Eknath Khadse, a former BJP stalwart who is now with the NCP. Khadse, who was instrumental in building the BJP’s base in Jalgaon for over two decades, commands significant support in constituencies like Jalgaon Rural, Raver, and Muktai Nagar, which have sizeable Leva Patil community voters. His shift to the NCP and his vocal criticism of the BJP have the potential to damage the ruling alliance’s prospects in the district.

Despite the BJP’s downplaying of Khadse’s influence, his presence and grassroots support could have a considerable impact, especially given his longstanding political base and significant following in the region.

The road ahead

The upcoming Assembly elections in Jalgaon will be a fiercely contested battle. The BJP is banking on its development agenda and Hindutva plank, leveraging rallies and the presence of senior leaders like Union Minister Amit Shah. At the same time, the MVA is working hard to challenge the BJP’s dominance, promoting welfare schemes and highlighting issues of farmer distress and youth unemployment.

With 36.46 lakh voters — 18.75 lakh male and 17.7 lakh female — the fate of the candidates will be decided in the coming months. As the election draws near, both the BJP-led Maha Yuti and the MVA are ramping up their campaigns, aiming to secure the district’s 11 seats and tip the balance in their favour.