Nagpur: Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjari and BJP candidate Sandip Joshi filed their nominations for Nagpur division graduates’ constituency polls on Thursday. Supporters of both candidates seemed upbeat and claimed that their man would win easily.
Wanjari and other Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders including Balasaheb Thorat (state Congress president and revenue minister), Congress cabinet ministers Nitin Raut, Sunil Kedar and Vijay Wadettiwar, Shiv Sena MP Krupal Tumane, former NCP minister Ramesh Bang, etc gathered at Samvidhan Square and then proceeded to the divisional commissionerate on foot.
After filing nominations, Thorat told the media that BJP was claiming that the constituency was its bastion since 50 years and hence it would win this time too. “That is history. Wanjari has been preparing for this election since last two years and he is going to win easily.”
On Wednesday, NCP city president Anil Ahirkar had told the media that the party would field its own candidate. Commenting on this, Thorat said, “We will talk to NCP leaders. If they are upset we will sort out the differences and ensure that they do not field a candidate.”
After filing nominations, Congress leaders Ashish Dua, Rajendra Mulak and others went to Ahirkar’s office and pacified the NCP activists. Ahirkar then issued a letter to support Wanjari.
Joshi first went to union transport minister Nitin Gadkari’s residence to seek his blessings. From there he proceeded to Samvidhan Square. He filed the nomination accompanied by former BJP cabinet ministers Sudhir Mungantiwar and Chandrashekhar Bawankule, outgoing MLC Anil Sole, Sulekha Kumbhare, Pravin Datke etc.
Mungantiwar told the media that Joshi would win easily again. “This constituency has been bastion of BJP since last 50 years and will continue to remain so. The MVA government is giving shabby treatment to Vidarbha. The voters know this and will vote for BJP,” he said.
The ex-state finance minister further said, “The term of Vidarbha Statutory Development Board (VSDB) ended on April 10 this year but the government is yet to renew it. MVA does want a body which will prevent diversion of funds meant for Vidarbha to other parts of the state.”
“Tribal families have not got free food from government for last four months. I have asked Gadchiroli MP Ashok Nete to hold a meeting of all tribal MLAs in this regard. BJP will file cases against MVA government for cheating in every police station in tribal areas. If the police does not act, we will approach the court,” said Mungantiwar.