Ramtek, Gadchiroli become bone of contention as BJP hesitates to give Lok Sabha seats in Vidarbha to allies

Ramtek

Though it is not averse to accommodating the allies, the BJP is unwilling to concede Ramtek, with its local unit arguing that all these years, the undivided Shiv Sena’s candidate won from the seat because of the BJP’s organisational base and hard work. With the split in the Sena, the party believes it has the right to claim the seat.

A BJP leader from Vidarbha said, “The Sena (Shinde) faction is not a force to reckon with in the region. The Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency has been built and nurtured by the BJP. We rightfully deserve the seat. How long should we sacrifice our turf?”

The Shinde Sena’s claim for Ramtek, Yavatmal-Washim and Buldhana seats is based on the fact that it has sitting MPs in all three constituencies. At a meeting with state BJP leaders, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde pointed out that its sitting MPs will have to be accommodated. After the split in the Shiv Sena in June 2022, 13 out of its 18 MPs in Maharashtra had switched sides to join the faction led by Shinde.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had indicated that each party would be able to retain the constituency where it has a sitting MP. Nevertheless, the situation in Ramtek is a cause of concern for the BJP leadership considering that unrest at the grassroots would not augur well for the candidate contesting the polls.

The BJP has, instead, offered that sitting Shinde Sena MP Krupal Tumane could contest from Ramtek as a BJP candidate. State party president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, “In any party, the local leaders feel their candidate should get to contest. But in a coalition we have to accommodate everybody. At the same time, we will also have to ensure winnability.” He asserted that the issue will be resolved through discussions by top leaders.

The Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency covers six Assembly segments: Katol, represented by Anil Deshmukh (NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar); Saoner represented by Sunil Kedar (Congress); Hingha represented by Sameer Meghe (BJP); Umred represented by Raju Parwe (Congress); Kampti represented by Tekchand Sawake (BJP); and Ramtek represented by Ashish Jaiswal (Independent). Notably, the Shine Sena has no representation.

Yavatmal-Washim

While the BJP is not questioning the Shinde Sena’s right to contest in the Yavatmal-Washim seat, indications are sitting MP Bhawna Gawali will be replaced by state Cabinet Minister Sanjay Rathod, who is also from the Shinde faction. Although Rathod was embroiled in a controversy following the suicide of Tiktok artist Pooja Chavan in August 2021 in Pune, he is perceived as the better option compared to Gawali when it comes to the polls.

Rathod was given a clean chit in the Pooja Chavan case during the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s tenure when the Shiv Sena was undivided.

Gadchiroli

In the Gadchiroli seat, the friction is between the BJP and the NCP (Ajit Pawar). Senior NCP minister Dharmarao Baba Atram is keen to contest the Lok Sabha seat while his party also insists on the seat to ensure its presence in Vidarbha.

However, the sitting MP here is from the BJP which makes the party reluctant to let go. In 2019, the BJP’s Ashok Nete won the Gadchiroli seat by defeating Congress candidate Namdeo Usendi.

A BJP leader who manages the party’s Vidarbha unit said, “The party will oppose Dharmarao Baba Atram tooth and nail. He is an MLA representing Aheri which comes under the Gadchiroli constituency. The BJP unit has fought against Atram for several years. Now, how can they set aside the differences and help him? It will be difficult.”

How was the BJP placed in Vidarbha in 2019?

In 2019, the BJP and the undivided Sena jointly contested the Lok Sabha elections across Maharashtra. Of the total 48 seats, the BJP won 23, the Sena won 18, the NCP won four and the Congress had to settle for one. Two seats went to Independents.

In Vidarbha, the BJP bagged 57,65,690 votes and won five of the total 10 Lok Sabha seats –Nagpur, Akola, Wardha, Bhandara-Gondia and Gadchiroli. Its then alliance partner, the undivided Sena, won three seats – Ramtek, Buldhana and Yavatmal-Washim – with a total of 34,91,323 votes. The Congress won its lone seat in Chandrapur with 12,38,474 votes, and its then alliance partner, the undivided NCP, ended up empty-handed even as the Amravati seat was bagged by an Independent.