Despite 2 strong candidates, BJP keeping ‘outsider’ option open for Chandrapur LS seat

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the lone seat that Congress won was Chandrapur in Vidarbha. Congress candidate Suresh Dhanorkar had then defeated BJP heavyweight Hansraj Ahir.

After MP Dhanorkar passed away in May, 2023, the seat lies vacant. Highly placed sources said Congress would likely field late Suresh Dhanorkar’s widow Pratibha Dhanorkar from Chandrapur LS seat.” Pratibha Dhanorkar herself is a Congress MLA representing Warora Assembly seat which comes under Chandrapur LS.

Sources in the party said, “The challenge before BJP is to counter the Congress hold in the constituency for which it is bringing a couple of strong leaders into its fold with a promise of Lok Sabha ticket. The party has adopted a wait and watch attitude for now.”

A senior BJP functionary based in Vidarbha said, “We are leaving no stone unturned to secure every seat. If a Congress leader joins us we will welcome him or her. ‘Congress mukt Maharashtra’ is our goal.” But it does not mean we have no options, he said. “We have two inhouse BJP candidates Hansraj Ahir and Sudhir Mungantiwar both of whom are senior experienced leaders.” While Mungantiwar is currently a cabinet minister in state government, Ahir is the chairman of National OBC Commission.

The Chandrapur LS constituency, which was established in 1952, has seen BJP win five general elections. Former Union minister Hansraj Ahir won Chandrapur in 1996, giving BJP its first break in the then Congress stronghold. Ahir won the seat in 2004, 2009 and 2014.

State Congress president Nana Patole is confident of the party retaining Chandrapur seat. On Tuesday he said, “We are sure of doing well in Vidarbha.” Patole who represents Sakole assembly seat said, “Even if PM Narendra Modi is fielded in Bhandara Gondia constituency, Congress will win.”

However, BJP has dismissed Patole’s bold assertions as day dreaming. State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, “In Vidarbha we are confident of winning all ten LS seats. Our optimism stems from public support to BJP under leadership of PM Narendra Modi and Dy Cm Devendra Fadnavis.”

Even as BJP wants absolute hold in Vidarbha, Shinde Sena is unwilling to relinquish its claim on three seats— Ramtek, Buldhana and Yavatmal-Washim—in the cotton belt of the region.

Why Vidarbha is important

Once called white gold, the Vidarbha cotton belt is broadly divided into two — eastern and western region— which has ten seats —Nagpur, Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur, Wardha, Ramtek, Gadchiroli, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Yavatmal-Washim.

In 2024 LS polls, the BJP, Sena and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) are contesting as allies against the united Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Congress, Sena (UBT) and NCP( Sharad Pawar faction).

In the 2019 LS elections, BJP won 23 seats, Sena won 18, Congress one and NCP bagged four. Two seats went to independents. BJP and undivided Sena were alliance partners then, and Congress and NCP too contested as allies.

Five years ago, BJP won five seats—Nagpur, Akola, Wardha, Bhandara-Gondia and Gadchiroli. The three seats which Sena (undivided) won were Ramtek, Buldhana and Yavatmal-Washim.

The Amravati LS seat was taken by an independent Navneet Rana, who is going to contest as a BJP candidate in 2024.

Of the 10 seats, BJP will contest from 7 and Sena (Shinde) from 3. However, local BJP leaders are asserting their right on Ramtek and Buldhana constituencies, which were among the three seats won in the last election by undivided Sena with BJP support.