Lok Sabha elections 2019: In Bhandara–Gondiya of Maharashtra, all eyes on the BJP rebel

Maharashtra’s 48 constituencies will vote to elect members to the Lok Sabha in four phases on April 11,18, 23 and 29.

The Bhandara–Gondiya Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra came into existence following delimitation in in 2008 .

A polling official marks a voter with indelible ink prior to casting a ballot inside a polling station(AFP Photo)

Three of its assembly segments are in Bhandara district, while the other three are in Gondia district.

Nana Patole, who defeated NCP’s Praful Patel in 2014, resigned in 2017 over what he called the BJP’s “casual” approach towards farmers in the state.

Patole later joined Congress and is set to contest from Nagpur this time.

Maharashtra’s 48 constituencies will vote to elect members to the Lok Sabha in four phases on April 11,18, 23 and 29.

Here’s all you need to know about Bhandara-Gondiya:

State : Maharashtra

Name of the Lok Sabha constituency: Bhandara–Gondiya

2019 candidates: Sunil Baburao Mendhe (BJP), Panchbudhe Nana Jairam (NCP)

Date of polling: April 11

Sitting MP, Party: Nanabhau Falgunrao Patole, BJP (till 2017), NCP’s Madhukarrao Yashwantrao Kukde won the 2018 by-election

Winning margin in 2014: 149,254 (2014) 48, 097 (2018)

Runner up name, party: Patel Praful Manoharbhai, Nationalist Congress Party (2014), Hemant Shrawan Patle of the BJP (2018 by poll)

Number of polling booths in 2014: 2,079

Number of voters in 2014: 1,197,398

Percentage of votes polled in 2014: 72% (2014), 54% (2018)

Number of women voters: 581,239 (2014)