NCP fields ex-BJP man as candidate

If congressmen are talking about soft Hindutva, its partner in power, the NCP, has gone a step ahead. In a bid to make a dent in the BJP fortress, the party has fielded a former BJP man for the Feb 26 by-election to the Bhokardan Assembly segment. That is not all. Supporters of NCP candidate Chandrakant Danve, who is the son of former BJP MP Pundalik Danve, do not hesitate to let people know that he had participated in the Ramjanmabhoomi Mukti Andolan.

‘‘We picked a former BJP man to give it a dose of its own medicine. The decision was also taken keeping in view local politics. If we defeat BJP here, it will prove to be a morale-booster for our cadre,’’ says a senior NCP leader. Though the NCP had lost Bhokardan in the 1999 Assembly polls by a slender margin of 4,000, the BJP has managed to retain its hold over the constituency for over a decade. The BJP says it is not bothered with the NCP’s moves. ‘‘Bhokardan is our stronghold. Nobody will support NCP for its drama,’’ says BJP leader Gopinath Munde.