RATNAGIRI

While Anant Geete has achieved an hat-trick, the NCP chief is leaving no stone unturned to wrest the seat from the saffron party.

A well-established network of Shiv Sena shakhas (units), Sena-BJP retaining control over all the six assembly segments in Ratnagiri parliamentary constituency and his image as an Union Energy Minister give Anant Geete a clear edge over his nearest NCP rival Govindrao Nikam.

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Though on cards, there is a triangular contest with the presence of Peasants and Workers Party's (PWP) Pankaj Kawli, there appears to be a keen tussle between Geete and Nikam.

While Geete has achieved an hat-trick by winning in 1996, 1998 and 1999, NCP president Sharad Pawar and Congress-NCP DF government are leaving no stone unturned to wrest the seat from the saffron party.

Taking keen interest in the electioneering, the Maratha strongman has addressed public meetings at Ratnagiri, Khed and Chiplun even as Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde announced a special Rs 300 crores package for the development of the Konkan region.

NCP state unit general secretary Gurunath Kulkarni has been making special efforts to establish the party in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts since last one year.

Even if Nikam, a former MP, who weilds considerable influence over the co-operative sector in the district, is not able to defeat Geete, he would pose a tough challenge to the Union Minister, observers here feel.

Geete, who belongs to Tillori Kunbi community, which comprises a majority of the population in the district, also enjoys a good rapport among other sections of the society.

Despite being Union Minister, Geete has taken efforts to maintain contact with the electorate here. Nikam, who belongs to Maratha community, is supported by Congress, Janata Dal-Secular and the RPI.

The NCP candidate weilds considerable influence in various sectors like co-operative, agriculture and education. A dedicated team of workers, belonging to these fields, is working for Nikam, who is in the fray after eight years.

But Geete's strength lies in the saffron combine legislators and Sena-BJP's hold over Zilla Parishad, five Panchayat Samitis, two Municipal Councils and 50 per cent of the gram panchayats.

Remaining two municipal councils, a nagar panchayat, a panchayat samiti and 40 per cent gram panchayats of the district are controlled by Congress and NCP together.

The BJP holds assembly segments of Ratnagiri and Guhagar while Sena has Chiplun, Khed, Dapoli and Mahad assembly seats in its kitty.

Before the emergence of Sena, Ratnagiri was a bastion of Congress. But internecine differences and lack of organisational network has made the party weak in the region.

On the contrary, keenness of Sainiks to take up local issues, development of the region during the erstwhile Sena-BJP rule and their closely knit network has witnessed Sena's growth in this coastal belt of Maharashtra.

Closure of majority of industries, rendering many jobless, revival of Dabhol Power Company, which may provide jobs to unemployed, and initiating allied industries in the region appears high on the agenda for the development of this region.

But surprisingly, in a constituency of 9.12 lakhs electorate, where women voters outnumber their male counterparts, hardly any candidate is seen talking about issues concerning women.