VBA factor: Did Dalits keep Cong-NCP from gaining power in Pune?

A look at the vote tally shows that VBA ate into Cong-NCP votebank in at least three seats in the city

The vote share of the parties in the Maharashtra assembly polls reinforced the fact that a combined opposition always stands a better chance to challenge the ruling regime. A look at the vote tally shows that the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), spoiled the Congress-NCP chances in at least three seats in Pune.

NCP party workers celebrate at the counting centre in Koregaon Park after the party emerged victorious in Hadapsar, Wadgaonsheri.(HT/PHOTO)

According to political observers, the results of Shivajinagar, Khadakwasla and Cantonment assembly constituencies would have been different had the Prakash Amedkar led- Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) joined hands with Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The VBA secured more votes than the difference between the votes of the winning Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and the opposition candidate, said the political observers.

BJP’s Sunil Kamble won the Pune Cantonment seat after receiving 52,160 votes against Congress’ Ramesh Bagwe, who got 47,148 votes. The close contest has led the Congress to claim that Bagwe would have won if the VBA hadn’t split the vote bank.

The VBA’s Laxman Arde polled 10,026 votes. According to political observers, this factor has cost the Cong-NCP the Cantonment seat.

The Cong-NCP tried to convince Prakash Ambedkar for an alliance, however, he rejected their proposal and contested alone. The voters who support the VBA are in favour of Cong-NCP, however, since VBA contested separately, the vote bank split and this worked for the BJP-Sena, said political observers.

BJP’s Siddharth Shirole won from the Shivajinagar constituency by a thin margin of 5,287 votes. Anil Kurhade, VBA’s candidate from this constituency, secured 10,454 votes. Similarly in Khadakwasla, BJP’s candidate Bhimrao Tapkir won by just 2,595 votes and VBA candidate Appa Akhade polled 5,931 votes.

All these figures show that, had the VBA formed an alliance with Cong-NCP, the results in Pune would have been different, said political observers.

Split the difference

Shivajinagar

Siddharth Shirole (BJP)- 58,727

Datta Bahirat (Congress) – 53,440

Difference – 5,287

Anil Kurhade (VBA) – 10,454

Khadakwasla

Bhimrao Tapkir (BJP) – 1,20,518

Sachin Dodke (NCP)- 1,17,923

Difference – 2,595

Appa Akhade (VBA) – 5,931

Pune Cantonment

Sunil Kamble (BJP)- 52,160

Ramesh Bagwe- 47,148

Difference – 5,052

Laxman Arde (VBA) – 10,026