Gadchiroli face-off will be a close counter

Gadchiroli: Gadchiroli-Chimur constituency, which is reserved for a schedule tribe candidate, is set to witness an unpredictable tussle between BJP MP Ashok Nete and Congress’s Dr Namdeo Usendi. Both are former MLAs with Nete being elected to the state assembly twice.
In the past, Usendi and Nete have already defeated each other once in the Maoist-affected tribal district where development and infrastructure in every sector have remained affected even after so many decades of independence.

In the 2009 assembly election, Dr Usendi, who was earlier associated with the Gadchiroli district hospital, was an underdog against the then MLA Nete after being inducted into the electoral politics by mentor Vijay Wadettiwar, the Brahmapuri MLA.

Usendi had tasted success after anti-incumbency affected Nete. It was a double blow for Nete as he subsequently also lost the parliamentary election on 2009 against Congress’s Marotrao Kowase.

In 2014, an emboldened Usendi wanted to try his luck in the larger arena. Congress MP Kowase was denied a ticket and a much younger Usendi brought in. Usendi, then facing an allegation of having constructed his bungalow at rocket speed after being elected as MLA from Gadchiroli, was defeated by more than 2.36 lakhs by comeback man Nete. There was also a Modi wave at that time.

Last week, Nete told TOI that he was not overawed by the 2009 loss. “I opened my office next day after the results and began work from scratch,” he said.

On his brighter chance this time, Dr Usendi said, “Even during the Modi wave in 2014, I had bagged nearly 3 lakh votes. There is a strong anti-incumbency wave against Nete who has not done much work as MP.”

According to political pundits, Nete getting embroiled in a financial scam involving his cooperative bank could be his Achilles heel. Every Congress leader, including ex-CM Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday, has been harping on it in public meets. That Nete was unable to procure environmental and forest department clearances for the Wadsa-Nagpur railway line and also the broad gauging of the Nagbhid and Nagpur line is also being viewed as a failure. The railway connectivity was one of the 2014 poll promises of Nete.

The vast stretch of the constituency also includes Gondia district’s Dewri and Amgaon where Nete has a negative image as no developmental works has taken place here in the last few years.

Gadchiroli is learnt to be divided over the 42% vote share of the OBC section which may turn the wheels of fortune. In 2009 and 2014, the OBC factor had played a key role to turn the tide. “The community has been fighting for justice after their reservation quota was reduced to six from 19% in early 2000. BJP and Congress leaders had been trying to woo this crucial section by restoring their lost reservation. It is still not clear how the OBCs will vote this time,” said a political worker.

Some poll enthusiasts claimed farmers are unhappy with BJP as they did not get their loans waived. Over and above, the farmers were made to fill up some online forms and also spend Rs2,000 as processing fee.

Sources from the interiors of Gadchiroli said that the non-implementation of PESA and Forest Rights Act in the mining belts of Etapalli-Bhamragarh in the south and Maseli-Kurkheda in the north would be a deciding factor. The Supreme Court decision on land ownership in forested region and the issue of encroachment has resulted in some loss of faith on BJP government in state and centre.

According to a local politician, who did not wanted to be named, the fight is equally poised. “Though tribals are known as the vote bank of Congress, the situation has changed over the years. While BJP’s chance seems to be brighter due to the Modi-factor, Congress too is not any less strong this time as it has the support of not only NCP but also Communist party of India and other local parties like Gondwana Ganatantra Party,” he said.