Nagpur graduates' poll: BJP rebels step aside but fears of sabotage remain in BJP and Congress

Rebels in the BJP have withdrawn from the Nagpur division graduates' constituency election after all that happened between the filing of nominations and the last date for withdrawal. Even so, the discontent has not died down. In the Congress, signs of infighting are still visible.

The official candidates of the two traditional rivals are now campaigning vigorously. But even political observers find it hard to say which way the contest will go.

A convention in support of Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjari was recently held in the presence of the state in-charge, Sirivella. Leaders from North Nagpur were not seen at it. All the leaders present stressed unity and appealed to workers to work for Wanjari. Even so, former state president Nana Patole alluded to factionalism in his speech.

In the BJP, it is said that thousands of workers are unhappy with their own leaders. Former MLA Anil Sole, a loyal worker who had never stepped outside the party line, had rebelled, questioning the way the candidature was decided. When he did not withdraw his nomination on the last date, the chief minister had to go to his house in person.

It is said that Sole vented his anger before the chief minister as well. He is reported to have agreed and said he would work in support of Sudhakar Kohle. But it is also being said that his face and body language told a different story.

Sole's supporters are still extremely angry. The talk is that the result of the 2020 election, in which Sandip Joshi was defeated, should not be repeated this time. Patole has claimed that there is deep anger among BJP workers in urban areas as well as rural ones, and that they are expressing their feelings.

All is not said to be well in the Congress either. The factionalism between the city and district Congress is no secret. Former city president Vikas Thakre had said openly at a function after Praful Gudadhe became president that some leaders of the party itself had been working to defeat him in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. He had also warned Gudadhe to beware of such people.

For now, city and district Congress leaders are trying to show unity to get Wanjari elected in the graduates' election. Only the result will show who backs him how much. The North Nagpur leaders' distance from the convention remains a talking point. Wanjari will have to fight the election while identifying not only the candidates of various parties but also the traitors within his own party.