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Journalism of Courage
AHMEDNAGAR, SEPT 6: The Ahmednagar Lok Sabha constituency which goes to polls on September 11, for the first time during monsoons, is expecting to witness a higher percentage of polling this year due to the presence of migratory sugarcane labourers.
The labourers are usually away from their native places between October and May when elections are generally held, migrating to Beed, Jalna, Aurangabad and Osmanabad districts in search of work. But this time the early polls will enable them to exercise their franchise.
The contest in Ahmednagar is a triangular one between the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party.
The constituency has been voting for the Congress since 1952 except in 1957 and 1998. In 1957, the Samyukta Maharashtra agitation saw an Independent candidate R K Khadilkar defeating Congressman U R Bogawat. In 1998, Shiv Sena candidate Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil, an ex-Congressman and a sugar baron, snatched the seat from Congress.
Now, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is trying hard to retain the seat and has pitted Dilip Gandhi against Dada Patil Shelke of NCP and Babasaheb Bhos of Congress.
As part of his campaign trail, Pawar toured the district extensively and roped in dissident BJP leaders Ghanashyam Shelar and Prabhakar Kawat. The NCP is banking on its experienced man Shelke and expecting to win, taking advantage of the weakness in rival camps.
Party workers hope the BJP8217;s last minute change of candidate and fielding of a comparatively new man; revolt in Shiv Sena in three Assembly constituencies and casteism in other parties may help NCP win the seat.
Shelke, a five-term MLA and two-time MP, had been elected on a Congress ticket in 1996. But in 1998 he was trounced by BJP-Sena alliance8217;s trump card, Vikhe-Patil. Earlier, Vikhe-Patil had been defeated by the Congress nominee in 1991 when he contested as an Independent supported by Janata Dal.
This time, Vikhe-Patil has shifted to nearby Kopergaon following the exchange of seats by Shiv Sena and BJP. BJP had first decided to field Tukaram Gadakh who had earlier contested for the seat in 1991 and polled 1.5 lakh votes. But in a change of plans State BJP president Suryabhan Vahadane declared the candidature of Shelar as the party nominee from Ahmednagar.
Some Sangh Parivar leaders protested against Shelar8217;s candidature and a few partymen were physically attacked at the BJP district office leading the police to register an FIR against the two groups. Finally the seat was given to Gandhi, a former municipal council president.
After the split of the Congress, many sugar barons and heads of various cooperatives, who had been backing it, joined Pawar. This paved the way for Bhos, an advocate, who is not known outside Shrigonda. Despite the changed atmosphere, Congress is pinning hopes on minority votes including those of Christians and Buddhists.
Another factor is the support of Republican Party of India Ambedkar faction. But the Congress fielding its candidate from Karjat-Jamkhed Assembly constituency which was earlier allotted to RPI has created a crack in the alliance.
Most parts of the constituency are drought-prone and lack proper irrigation facilities. Besides, electricity is a major issue here.
Deterioratng condition of the expanding Parali-Ahmednagar railway line, agricultural and industrial problems and matters of unorganised sectors like Bidi industry are also expected to be discussed during the campaign.
There are six assembly segments in this Lok Sabha seat with 11,46,612 voters.
