Nagpur, Dec 4
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a big setback in the Nagpur graduate constituency seat of state legislative council. The party failed to save its strong bastion. Now, the party will be forced to do introspection. However, the party officials are considering Sandip Joshi’s tenure as mayor as one of the major reasons.
It is worth mentioning that during the tenure of Joshi, a dispute arose between Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) commissioner Tukaram Mundhe and ruling party. Development work was stalled and the phase of allegation and counter allegation continued. Meanwhile Covid-19 pandemic entered the scene and Mundhe was seen struggling with the issue while leading from the front while Joshi was caged in the house for long time. It had the opposite effect in the public mind. BJP officials are also saying in suppressed language that Joshi was only busy polishing his image. He did not show much interest towards development work or work of NMC.
On the other hand, the party denied ticket to sitting MLA Anil Sole and fielded Sandip Joshi. The backward class was mobilised as BJP continuously bringing the person of Brahmin community to its stronghold. Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjari was a member of the Teli community because the graduates of the society joined him. This society is considered the traditional vote bank of the BJP. BJP leaders said the activism of union minister Nitin Gadkari, who had once represented this seat, was less visible. The party also had to bear the brunt of this. However, leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis led from the front for his friend in Nagpur. But it was probably too late by then.
However, it is being claimed Joshi was the new face for this constituency while Wanjari is seasoned in education field. He is also senate member of Nagpur University. In this situation, he was in direct connection with the voters. On the other Joshi failed to connect with the voters.
Did not pay attention to second preference
BJP was so much confident of victory that is did not try to get the second preference vote. On the other hand Wanjari paid full attention to these votes. The result is clearly indicating this. Joshi got nominal votes of second preference. while Wanjari got enough votes. The graduates associated with Republican ideology gave their second preference to Wanjari. For this reason, Wanjari quickly reached the winning quota in the second preference counting.