Nagpur graduates' seat gives BJP a headache; Fadnavis takes charge of campaign

The Nagpur division seat in the Legislative Council graduates' constituency has become a headache for the BJP. The seat is said to be a matter of prestige for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. The BJP's official candidate is Sudhakar Kohale, and Abhijeet Wanjari is in the fray for the Congress.

The resentment that arose in the party after the candidate was chosen has not subsided. On the surface all appears well in the BJP camp, but several office-bearers and workers are voicing their anger in hushed tones. This anger could hurt the party, and the senior leaders are aware of it. For this reason the Chief Minister himself has had to take complete charge to ensure Kohale's victory.

Rebel candidate Anil Sole was not reachable even for his senior leaders until the last date for withdrawal of nominations. Gadkari also tried to contact him by phone during that time, without success. The Chief Minister then took the matter in hand, went to Sole's house, spoke to him and had him announce his withdrawal from the contest himself.

Sole has announced his withdrawal, but his name will remain on the ballot paper because he did not withdraw it on the fixed date. Many of Sole's supporters are still saying that once the results are out, everyone will understand who stood with whom. An office-bearer of the BJYM and a very senior office-bearer of the BJP's senior citizens' cell acknowledged that Sole will cut a considerable number of the official candidate's votes, which would not be good. The outcome will depend on how party leaders ease the resentment in the remaining 4 days.

Caste equations are also being discussed. Since elections began on the Nagpur graduates' seat, only one OBC candidate from the BJP has won. Until 2020, Brahmin candidates held the seat. Sole and Vyas, who rebelled with him, fitted this equation. Sole has won the seat once, but in 2020 he was set aside and Sandip Joshi was given the chance. Congress's Abhijeet Wanjari defeated Joshi, and in political circles the BJP's internal rift was cited as the reason for that defeat.

This time Fadnavis has fielded Sudhakar Kohale of the Kunbi community, while Congress candidate Wanjari is from the Teli community. It is said that graduate voters do not care about caste or community, but that is not correct. According to political observers, the contest on this seat is now going to be Kunbi versus Teli. Some claim the Teli factor could prove heavier, provided infighting in the Congress does not show its effect in this election.

The BJP wants to win back this seat at any cost, so senior leaders have lined up a barrage of meetings. Gadkari is addressing 4 to 6 small campaign meetings a day. Guardian Minister Bawankule is touring rural areas continuously. On Sunday, October 18, Chief Minister Fadnavis has 7 campaign meetings in the city. He is touring the entire division and holding meetings for the party candidate's victory.