Shiv Sena leader faces stiff challenge, but Congress candidate hopeful of winning the seat with the splitting of saffron votes in the region
(From left) Parshuram Aade, Bhavana Gawali and Manikrao Thakre
Banjara connection
Anticipating the BJP candidature, Aade had built up a reputation in his politically dominant Banjara community that has 4.5 lakh voters in the total 21 lakh votes. "Aade expects a majority of Banjaras to vote for him and also convince the BJP's committed voters to support him, thus, reducing Gawali's vote share drastically. The splitting of saffron votes would benefit Thakre, the former minister and ex-president of state Congress," said a political observer Nagesh Gorakh. Aade said he was not contesting as a rebel, but respecting the wishes of his supporters who wanted to elect him. "I have been working for the people for years and they want a representative like me," he said.
Sena district chief Rajendra Gaikwad said the Banjaras were entirely with Gawali because the community's two most influential leaders Sanjay Rathod (Sena minister) and Nilay Naik (BJP's MLC) were in the NDA. Thakre and Gawali are also banking on caste politics. They belong to the different sub-castes of the largest Kunbi community, which is expected to give the contest a dramatic twist.
Feud in parties
If Gawali faces a challenge in a party feud within the Sena, Thakre too is no exception because the Congress leadership here is not together. Sena chief Uddav Thackeray and CM Devedra Fadnavis who will be here to address a joint rally on April 8 are expected to do some damage control. In the Congress camp, Thakre has managed to get some disgruntled colleagues on side, but that may not suffice, said a senior Congress leader, who has kept himself away from Thakre's campaign. But, Thakre seemed unaffected. "I'm focusing on reaching out to maximum people and telling them why they should support the Congress," he said.
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