Constituency Watch: Triangular fight in Palghar, tribal seat that is also a BVA stronghold

With the three key parties pulling out all the stops to win the seat, the constituency has witnessed a flurry of rallies including a last-day campaign by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Sena UBT president Uddhav Thackeray held two rallies in Palghar and Union Minister Amit Shah too held a rally in the constituency. While Hemant Savara is contesting on BJP ticket, Bharti Kamdi is contesting from Shiv Sena (UBT) and Rajesh Patil from BVA.

While the constituency has been the stronghold of BVA, over the past two general elections and in one bypoll, BJP and undivided Sena had emerged victorious.

The tribals, who account for nearly 60 per cent population, have been opposing the proposed mega projects like Rs 76,000 crore Vadhavan Port, which has become the major issue in this election. While Sena UBT’s Kamdi has been opposing the project and has been claiming that she will not let the project come to the district, BJP has been in the favour of the project.

Palghar Lok Sabha constituency has a total of six assembly constituencies. At present, Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi led by Hitendra Thakur is holding sway in three of these constituencies–Vasai, Nalasopara and Boisar. The other three constituencies have MLAs from Communist Party of India (Marxist), Shinde-led Shiv Sena and NCP SP.

BVA’s Hitendra Thakur, who is considered to be a strongman from the region, has supported the ruling party in the past but despite BJP’s attempt to convince him not to field its candidate, Thakur went ahead and fielded his candidate.

“In a straight fight between BJP and Sena UBT, the majority of votes against BJP would have gone to Shiv Sena (UBT). But now with Thakur’s entry, these votes will be divided because if Thakur’s candidate is elected, BJP has assumed his support,” Rajesh Gavit, a local of Nalasopara resident said, adding that looking at the candidature and their history, it looks like Rajesh Patil has a high chance of winning.

“We do not care who wins or loses. We need basic facilities here. We need jobs, water, healthcare facilities. We also do not want any harmful projects to come here and destroy our eco-sensitive region,” said Chhaya Valvi, a resident of Nalasopara village.

While BJP is banking on the development plank of Narendra Modi along with the local support base, anti-Vadhavan Port activists and villagers are supporting Kamdi and the MVA is attempting to encash on the combined MVA and anti-BJP voters which are mostly tribals, Christians and Muslims in the seat.

Although Vasai, Palghar, Vikramgad, Dahanu and Boisar assembly constituencies are favourable for the Maha Vikas Aghadi, a lot also depends on the performance of Hitendra Thakur’s BVA in these areas. Thakur’s BVA has three MLAs in this constituency and the BVA candidate, Boisar MLA Rajesh Patil, has started a fierce campaign from the very first day and is banking on the development plank.

The BVA has clarified its stand against the expansion of the port and will try to get the votes of the fishermen, farmers and Bhoomiputras associated with the port, who are against the ruling alliance. Palghar constituency came into being on February 19, 2008 and the first election was held in 2009, when Baliram Jadhav of BVA was victorious by defeating BJP’s Chintaman Vansga by a narrow margin. In 2014, however, BJP’s Chintaman Vanaga defeated Baliram Jadhav by a margin of more than 2 lakh votes. Owing to his demise, by-elections were again held in 2018. Shiv Sena had nominated Chintaman Vanaga’s son.

Srinivas Vanaga in the bypoll. But BJP’s Rajendra Gavit won the seat by defeating Vanaga and Baliram Jadhav.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rajendra Gavit contested on Shiv Sena ticket and won. Gavit, the sitting MP, has not been re-nominated by the Sena.