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Lok Sabha elections 2019: Raver seems safe, but will infighting cost BJP in Jalgaon?
Jalgaon district has seen many controversies and scams over the past few decades — a sex scandal in the late 1990s, arrest of SIMI workers a decade ago, arrest of two former ministers in a housing scam and most recently, a corruption case related to airport land
Both the Lok Sabha constituencies in Jalgaon district have been dominated by the BJP for years. This time, however, it would not be easy for the party to retain both Jalgaon and Raver.
In 2014, sitting MP AT Patil won from Jalgaon by 3.83 lakh votes — the second-highest margin in the state. Raksha Khadse, daughter-in-law of former revenue minister Eknath Khadse, won Raver by 3.18 lakh votes. According to popular perception, Raksha has a better chance to beat her opponent and Congress candidate Ulhas Patil. The party has been struggling in Jalgaon, where BJP’s Unmesh Patil has been fielded against NCP’s Gulabrao Devkar. Both the constituencies go to polls on April 23.
Earlier, infighting within the BJP came to the fore before they announced their candidate. It had to first deny a ticket to its sitting MP AT Patil and then change its official candidate a few hours before the deadline for filing nominations. A clash between two groups of workers over the nomination has further dented the party prospects. “There were differences among leaders, but we have resolved them. We do not see problem in winning Jalgaon too,” said Eknath Khadse.
Jalgaon district has seen many controversies and scams over the past few decades — a sex scandal in the late 1990s, arrest of SIMI workers a decade ago, arrest of two former ministers in a housing scam and most recently, a corruption case related to airport land.
The BJP nominated legislator Smita Wagh initially, but most of the MLAs from the constituency refused to work for her, forcing the party to change the candidate. The party’s candidate is the sitting MLA from Chalisgaon, but is not accepted by all factions within the party. AT Patil has reportedly been keeping himself away from the campaigning.
Meanwhile, NCP’s Devkar was imprisoned a few years ago for a housing scam in the local body, when he was heading it. Although not known for his performance as a minister and legislator, he may benefit from the infighting within BJP.
“The BJP’s MP has failed to perform despite having served two terms. The people praise me for the works I did as a minister a few years ago,” Devkar said.
In Raver, Raksha has it relatively easier as her opponent is a candidate put up by the Congress after NCP failed to do so. Raksha is from the Gurjar community and married into the Khadse family, which hails from the Leva Patil community. Raver has more than 40% voters from the Leva Patil community and sizable voters from Gurjar community.
Raksha claims it was due to her effort that a mega recharge project for water supply has been brought to the level of implementation. Congress’s Ulhas Patil said the MP has failed on all counts and he has got support from voters, whom he has helped in health services.
Raver is known for its banana cultivation, although farmers have been complaining against politicians for no efforts taken to set up processing plants for the fruit. The voters hold politicians responsible for their “failure” to implement the recharge project. “If implemented in a time-bound manner, it will help solve water woes,” said Hemant Prabhudesai, a resident.
The Congress candidate has been facing the ire of the Maratha community over the murder of former leader VG Patil a decade ago. A section of the community has decided to not back Ulhas Patil. “Jalgaon’s sitting MP AT Patil has not been able to perform well over ten years, be it the issue of water supply or infrastructure. The infighting within the party will definitely affect performance, but voters still have faith in Modi,” said Anil Shah, a social commentator.
