Aurangabad, Dec 30:
Former minister and observer Chandrashekar Bawankule said that the Marathwada Graduates Constituency election was dragged into controversy due to the publicity of casteist remarks circulated by somebody through social media the campaigning. This is the reason why BJP candidate despite being a strong contender had to sustain defeat.
Bawankule said, " I obtained the reasons for the defeat of our candidate from the party''s office-bearers in every district of the region. The observation report will be sent to the party superiors. I also interacted with important leaders, including the candidate."
The marathon meeting of the former minister was held in a hotel, situated on Jalna Road. He had a one-to-one meeting with all the leaders and the office-bearers on Wednesday. The defeated candidate Shirish Boralkar was the last person to submit his views.
Through interaction, he tried to find answers to questions like why BJP candidate lost although the party is in a strong position in the region; what efforts did the party leaders, office-bearers and activists had taken and why they fell short. The party sustained a major blow in two to three districts. There are many educated members in the party''s cavalry then why the candidate got defeated. He also inquired why the voting percentage was low; who circulated casteist based messages on social media etc. while interacting with rural and urban office-bearers.
The responsible office-bearers mentioned about factors like development of hatred against the candidate, disturbance during campaigning due to social media etc. All efforts were made to bring the former CM into trouble, they pointed out, it is learnt.
The former minister also analysed low voting percentage in Beed for the candidate. Of total 45,000 votings, 30,000 votes were polled by candidate of Maha Vikas Aghadi, while BJP and other candidates in fray polled 15,000. This indicates who worked for whom. Despite having public representatives and union minister of state, BJP candidate was defeated badly, expressed the office-bearers before Bawankule, said the BJP sources.