Political heat rises as BJP, Congress clash for Chandrapur Lok Sabha seat
In Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, temperatures often soar above 47 degrees Celsius during April and May. Alongwith the temperature, the area’s political climate in the coal belt is becoming increasingly heated as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress are locked in a erce battle in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls on April 19.
The area in Vidarbha region has traditionally seen a head-to-head electoral ght between the two national parties. In the 2019 election, the grand old party managed to clinch the seat from the BJP, which had held it since 2004 with Suresh ‘Balu’ Dhanorkar emerging victorious over three-time MP Hansraj Gangaram Ahir.
Given this backdrop, the upcoming election is highly signicant for both parties as it was the lone seat that the Congress captured in the western State in the last election, a defeat that resonated deeply with the BJP. In view of this, it has nominated six-time MLA and State Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, a member of a micro-minority Vaishya community, for this seat.
Conversely, the Congress has chosen Pratibha
Dhanorkar, wife of late Dhanorkar who died last year. She is also sitting Congress MLA from Warora in the district and comes from the in¢uential Kunbi community.
Weighing up
Mr. Mungantiwar is relying heavily on his personal connections, developmental work, the inauguration of the Ram Temple and the ‘Modi’ factor to secure victory, while Ms. Dhanorkar aims to garner sympathy votes alongside the combined vote bank of the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition amid ‘lack of support’ from Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, a key politician in the region who wanted his daughter Shivani Wadettiwar for the ticket, but saw the party opting for his rival, Ms. Dhanorkar instead.
The Lok Sabha constituency comprises six Vidhan Sabha segments — Rajura, Chandrapur,
Ballarpur, Warora, Wani, and Arni. Mr. Wadettiwar has signicant in¢uence over four of these, with the exceptions being Ballarpur, represented by Mr. Mungantiwar, and Ms. Dhanorkar’s Warora, and his lack of support has been noticeable among the party cadre.
“Factors such as ‘pro-incumbency’ and the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will work in my favour, and the election here is a choice between gundaraj (hooliganism) and development rather than being in¢uenced by caste or religion. It’s not at all a tough ght, people know my nature and I know them. I don’t have a criminal background...,” Mr. Mungantiwar told The Hindu during his campaign trail in Warora taluka.
In urban centres, the persona of the BJP candidate is dominating Ms.
Dhanorkar’s ‘widow factor’. “We don’t see Sudhir bhau as a BJP candidate, but a man who brought developmental works and name to this district as guardian minister. He had put Tadoba [tiger reserve] on the world map, which is providing employment direct and indirect employment to thousands from various sections of society,” said Subhash Rao, a private employee from the town, also known as the ‘City of Black Gold’ as it has more than 30 active coal mines. Apart from several industries, including cement factories, Chandrapur houses the country’s largest power station with a capacity of 2,340 MW, which accounts for 25% of the State’s power needs, and the Ballarpur Industries (BILT), India’s largest paper manufacturer. It is also one of the most polluted cities in Maharashtra and in the country.
Namdev (name changed), a vendor selling the popular ‘tarri poha’ breakfast from a makeshift cart near the Congress election o§ce at Gandhi Chowk, is far less articulate. He quietly expresses his backing for the BJP, citing his scepticism about Congress’ chances of coming to power at the Centre. “What’s the point in voting for Congress when the BJP is sure of winning 400 seats?,” If Sudhir bhau he says softly.