As the deadline for filing nominations for the Maharashtra Assembly elections approaches, state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule remains calm and collected. He is set to contest from Kamptee, his home turf in the Vidarbha region, and has already secured his place in the party’s first list of 99 candidates.
At 57, Bawankule is no stranger to the electoral arena, having successfully won the Kamptee seat three times in 2004, 2009, and 2014. However, the 2019 elections were a setback when he was unexpectedly denied a ticket. The BJP’s decision to nominate Tekchand Sawarkar instead of Bawankule, who had served as the energy and excise minister, resulted in a significant loss for the party, particularly among the Teli (OBC) community, which Bawankule represents, The Indian Express reported.
Learning from past mistakes, the BJP has opted to field Bawankule again this election cycle. He will face former Nagpur Zilla Parishad president Suresh Bhoyar, who aims to leverage anti-incumbency sentiment against the BJP. Bhoyar received 1.07 lakh votes in 2019 compared to Sawarkar’s 1.18 lakh.
Bawankule exudes confidence in the BJP’s prospects, citing the development work accomplished under the Mahayuti government.
“The party is confident of doing well across Vidarbha and Maharashtra because of developmental work under the Mahayuti government. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, our leaders have always given priority to development and people can personally witness this,” he said.
Kamptee, a suburb of Nagpur, boasts a rich history, having been established in 1821 as a military cantonment. It has since gained prominence for the Dragon Palace Buddhist temple, attracting numerous visitors each year. Historically, Kamptee was a Congress stronghold until the BJP made significant inroads starting in 2004.
With the Maharashtra Assembly elections scheduled for November 20, Bawankule is keen to reverse the trends observed in the Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP managed to win only two out of ten seats in the Vidarbha region, while Congress secured five. The BJP is optimistic about its chances in Kamptee, particularly with Bawankule’s established presence and support among voters. In contrast, the Congress, led by state chief Nana Patole from Vidarbha, is intensifying efforts to consolidate Dalit, Muslim, and Kunbi votes to challenge the BJP’s OBC voter base.