It could not be an overstatement to recommend that everybody in Maharashtra will probably be keenly watching the ballot battle within the Chandrapur Lok Sabha constituency. Out of the 48 seats within the state, it is just one the Congress had managed to bag within the 2019 normal elections, and the BJP is now resolved to wrest it away.
This constituency, in some ways, will probably be a litmus check of whether or not the caste arithmetic labored out by the Congress or the BJP’s chemistry with voters emerges on high. Chandrapur is unfold over Chandrapur and Yavatmal districts. It is going to go to polls within the first section of the final elections on April 19.
It has six meeting segments – Wani (BJP), Ami (BJP), Rajura (Congress), Chandrapur (Unbiased), Ballarpur (BJP) and Warora (BJP). The seat has been vacant for the reason that loss of life of its MP Suresh ‘Balu’ Dhanrokar in Could 2023. The candidates contesting from this seat are Pratibha Dhanorkar of the Congress and Sudhir Mungantiwar of the BJP.
Positioned alongside the shores of two vital and infrequently inundated rivers coursing by way of the area, the Chandrapur parliamentary constituency is famend for its in depth reserves of coal and different minerals. Its wealthy historical past spans over 25,000 years, tracing again to the Stone Age. In Chandrapur district, the mercury typically crosses 46 levels Celsius in April-Could.
Listed below are the important thing points in Chandrapur Lok Sabha seat:
- Agrarian crises and lack of irrigation: Within the Vidarbha area, the place cotton and soybean are the first crops, alongside the best orange cultivation contributing as much as 30 per cent of the nation’s manufacturing, the monetary struggles of small and marginal farmers have lengthy been a urgent difficulty. Practically six districts out of a complete of 11 in Vidarbha have been labeled as misery districts since 2004-05. This area, infamous for the best variety of farm suicides, witnessed a gradual decline within the affect of the Congress-NCP alliance from the mid-2000s. Chandrapur, which lies in Jap Vidharba, is not any exception. Add to that, farmers are additionally stressed owing to repeated pure calamities affecting their crops and livelihood.
- Air pollution: The proliferation of industries has led to air pollution in Chandrapur, and this has grow to be a significant election difficulty for the individuals. Chandrapur is without doubt one of the most polluted cities in India. The town is an industrial space, residence to cement, explosives, paper, and textile factories, along with mines. The Chandrapur Tremendous Thermal Energy Station, specifically, is going through a number of allegations of flouting environmental norms and of knowingly and willingly damaging its speedy surroundings. The BJP candidate from Chandrapur says the Congress did nothing about it and that he would work to resolve the air pollution difficulty and make efforts for the general improvement of the constituency.
- Unemployment and youth migration: Unemployment is one other large difficulty this election season. The youth, seeking jobs, are leaving Chandrapur for greener pastures. This isn’t solely having an affect on the psyche of the individuals, however may very effectively affect their voting selections too. The Maratha reservation politics that led to sharp polarisation between Marathas and OBCs can be sure to have some affect on elections this time round.
- Maratha pleasure: The Maha Vikas Aghadi is tying the BJP’s alleged position in breaking events just like the Shiv Sena and NCP into a difficulty of Maratha pleasure and status. The opposition has been closely campaigning over the BJP’s supposed anti-Maharashtra stance. To counter this, the BJP has roped in Raj Thackeray in an try to calm tempers throughout the Maratha group. Floor inputs recommend that the problem has grabbed traction amongst voters.
What are the political dynamics?
For the BJP, the combat in Chandrapaur is a status difficulty. The social gathering is leaving no stone unturned to flip the seat and break the Congress’s solitary pocket of affect within the Vidarbha area.
Importantly, the battle for Chandrapur is so vital to the BJP as a result of the Congress is hopeful of springing again to political relevance within the state by reviving its presence within the all-important Vidarbha area. The BJP has fielded senior chief Sudhir Mungantiwar from Chandrapur. A senior hand in Maharashtra and Vidarbha politics, he’s the state forest minister.
Initially, Mungantiwar was hesitant about taking the Lok Sabha plunge as a result of he felt he had extra work to do within the state. However, realising the significance that the BJP’s high management connected to this seat, he appears to have fully invested himself within the combat for Chandrapur.
Mungantiwar is credited with arranging teakwood for the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya in addition to the brand new parliament constructing. The BJP, earlier than selecting his candidature, was considering fielding an outsider from Chandrapur.
The saffron social gathering is hopeful that regardless of not having the caste arithmetic in Chandrapur on its aspect, the Modi issue and the social gathering’s improvement plank will lower by way of caste and group traces, at the least among the many Hindus.
However, it’s not just like the BJP has abdicated the caste area solely to the Congress. In January, for instance, the Mahayuti authorities issued draft guidelines for increasing the scope of providing OBC certification to the Kunbi group, which is a pivotal vote bloc in Chandrapur.
This permits them to use for presidency jobs and seats in instructional establishments below the OBC class, which is entitled to 27 per cent reservation in Maharashtra. Having mentioned that, there may be additionally recognition of the truth that the state authorities acted largely below stress from activist Manoj Jarange Patil.
The collection of Mungantiwar, nevertheless, has reportedly upset political heavyweight Hansraj Ahir, who has gained Chandrapur 4 occasions. The BJP can not afford to get caught up in inner tussles if it needs to grab the seat from the Congress.
Similar to wresting the seat from the Congress is a status battle for the BJP, for the Congress, the combat is about retaining the one seat it gained in Maharashtra within the earlier Lok Sabha elections. Chandrapur is seen by the Congress as its launchpad for regaining relevance throughout Vidarbha and, subsequently, throughout Maharashtra. If the Congress loses this seat, these plans would come undone.
Given the high-stakes battle that Chandrapur is witnessing, one would guess that the Congress would get its home so as and make sure that the native management is onboard with the selection of candidate that the social gathering’s excessive command has chosen. However, the Congress is capturing itself within the foot by not with the ability to put up a united combat towards the BJP.
After a lot delay in asserting its candidate, the Congress settled for Pratibha Dhanorkar as its candidate. Dhanorkar is the widow of the late Suresh ‘Balu’ Dhanrokar, who clinched the one victory for the Congress in Maharashtra in 2019. She serves as a Congress MLA from Warora within the district and reportedly enjoys the backing of the state unit chief, Nana Patole.
Dhanorkar and the Congress can take solace in the truth that their makes an attempt at whipping up the sympathy vote seems to be working, particularly within the rural areas. The Congress is projecting her because the rightful inheritor of Chandrapur after her husband’s demise.
Dhanorkar, who’s an OBC herself, additionally has the caste arithmetic working in her favour. Dalits and Muslims are mentioned to be on the aspect of the Congress. Chandrapur is a Kunbi-dominated constituency the place the group has a decisive say in who will get elected.
What makes Chandrapur so robust for the BJP is the truth that a big chunk of the Kunbi vote may find yourself within the Congress kitty, which when mixed with the Muslim and Dalit vote, units the stage for the social gathering’s victory.
Voter demographic
Whole Voters: 19,68,436
SC Voters: 2,73,613 (13.9%)
ST Voters: 3,66,129 (18.6%)
Hindus: 80.75%
Muslims: 5.8%
Rural Voters: 11,86,967 (60.3%)
City Voters: 7,81,469 (39.7%)
