Nagpur: BJP has declared five candidates in Nagpur district, which comprises of 12 assembly constituencies, thus keeping everyone guessing about how much space it is ready to yield to Mahayuti allies. However, BJP’s decision to hold back on the Nagpur Central seat, where it has a sitting MLA in Vikas Kumbhare, hints that a change is coming.
Many ‘young’ BJP leaders close to Fadnavis are said to be keen to contest from Nagpur Central.Sources say a former mayor might get a chance to make an assembly poll debut from here.
As far as declared seats are concerned, in Nagpur city, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis from Nagpur South West and MLA Krishna Khopde from Nagpur East were a given. Fadnavis said, “It will be my constant effort to live up to the trust that the party leadership, the citizens of my South West Nagpur constituency, and the people of Maharashtra have consistently placed in me.”
However, in the first list, the renomination of Nagpur South MLA Mohan Mate did emerge as a surprise. Mate, who won with a narrow margin in 2019, had multiple contenders for the seat within the party. BJP’s Nagpur rural unit chief Sudhakar Kohale was vocal about contesting from the seat, which he represented in 2014.
In Nagpur rural, Hingna MLA Sameer Meghe has been given the green signal to attempt a hat-trick, while state party president and MLC Chandrashekhar Bawankule makes a comeback to electoral politics after landing a ticket from his former constituency Kamptee (Kamthi as per ECI records). After his nomination was made official, Bawankule said, “The voters of my Kamptee constituency have always showered me with immense love, which has helped me serve as a three-time MLA and once as a member of the Legislative Council. Their trust gives me energy and confidence. I assure them that I will continue to uphold this trust in the future as well.”
As focus shifts to the remaining seats for Nagpur district, sources say BJP is not letting go off those where it has sitting MLAs. While Mate may have managed to retain the ticket, his and Kumbhare’s 2019 victory has a common theme. Both barely managed to get past the finish line as Congress candidates came within touching distance. However, the splitting of votes led to BJP getting their nose ahead in the race.
It will be an uphill task for Kumbhare to get renominated, as the contenders in that constituency have a proven track record in civic politics and are viewed as the ‘future’ leaders.
Mahayuti allies have demanded seats both in the city and rural areas, but BJP is trying to hold on to as much as possible.
Many ‘young’ BJP leaders close to Fadnavis are said to be keen to contest from Nagpur Central.Sources say a former mayor might get a chance to make an assembly poll debut from here.
As far as declared seats are concerned, in Nagpur city, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis from Nagpur South West and MLA Krishna Khopde from Nagpur East were a given. Fadnavis said, “It will be my constant effort to live up to the trust that the party leadership, the citizens of my South West Nagpur constituency, and the people of Maharashtra have consistently placed in me.”
However, in the first list, the renomination of Nagpur South MLA Mohan Mate did emerge as a surprise. Mate, who won with a narrow margin in 2019, had multiple contenders for the seat within the party. BJP’s Nagpur rural unit chief Sudhakar Kohale was vocal about contesting from the seat, which he represented in 2014.
In Nagpur rural, Hingna MLA Sameer Meghe has been given the green signal to attempt a hat-trick, while state party president and MLC Chandrashekhar Bawankule makes a comeback to electoral politics after landing a ticket from his former constituency Kamptee (Kamthi as per ECI records). After his nomination was made official, Bawankule said, “The voters of my Kamptee constituency have always showered me with immense love, which has helped me serve as a three-time MLA and once as a member of the Legislative Council. Their trust gives me energy and confidence. I assure them that I will continue to uphold this trust in the future as well.”
As focus shifts to the remaining seats for Nagpur district, sources say BJP is not letting go off those where it has sitting MLAs. While Mate may have managed to retain the ticket, his and Kumbhare’s 2019 victory has a common theme. Both barely managed to get past the finish line as Congress candidates came within touching distance. However, the splitting of votes led to BJP getting their nose ahead in the race.
It will be an uphill task for Kumbhare to get renominated, as the contenders in that constituency have a proven track record in civic politics and are viewed as the ‘future’ leaders.
Mahayuti allies have demanded seats both in the city and rural areas, but BJP is trying to hold on to as much as possible.
