Maharashtra with 48 parliamentary constituencies is a key state in the General Elections. On April 11, three key constituencies; Gadhchiroli, Yavatmal, Nagpur and Bhandara-Gondia, went to polls. All of them are located in the Vidarbha region that is reeling under intense agrarian distress and also faces challenges like the presence of Naxal groups and a complicated caste quotient that will play a key role in determining the electoral future of the region. Here’s a look at why one needs to keep an eye on who comes to power here.
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Gahchiroli – Chimur:
This constituency is a heavily forested region and also has a huge tribal population. It is alleged that several Naxal groups are active in the region and often engage in acts of violence. It was constituted in 2008 due to delimitation and the Member of Parliament seat is reserved for a member of a Scheduled Tribe (ST). The current MP Ashok Nete is from the BJP.
This is an extremely violence ridden constituency. In fact, an IED blast took place just 150 meters from a polling booth in the Waghezari area in the constituency at about 10:30 AM on the day of polling! No one was reported to be injured. It is alleged that Naxal groups active in the area were behind the attack that was carried out to disrupt the poll process and create panic among people.
But this was not the first such incident in the election season. Just a day before the polls, a CRPF jawaan was critically injured when an IED blast took place in the Gatta Ettapalli area. Members of the 191st battalion were patrolling the area when the blast took place.
Yavatmal – Washim:
This constituency was once part of the prosperous cotton belt, but today it faces acute agrarian distress. It is one of the worst affected regions when it comes to incidents of farmer suicide. In fact, in April 2018, when 50 year old farmer Shankar Bhaurao Chayare allegedly committed suicide, he left behind a suicide note where he blamed PM Modi for his misery.
It has also been in the news for cases of pesticide poisoning. Shockingly, a state government appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Amravati Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) blamed the dead farmers and farm labourers for their own misfortune!
Incidents of communal violence were reported in 2008, 2009 and 2016. However, in a display of communal harmony Muharram sawari and Ganpati idols were installed under the same roof as Hindus and Muslims came together and stood united against hate.
This constituency was constituted in 2008 due to delimitation and the current MP is Bhavana Gawali of the Shiv Sena.
Bhandara – Gondia:
The constituency was constituted due to delimitation in 2008 and has seen some political heavyweights vying for the MP spot. While NCP’s Praful Patel helmed it from 2009 to 2014, the last general election saw BJP’s Nana Patole come to power. But Patole resigned suddenly in December 2017 citing inaction on issues of farmer distress.
In the by-election that followed NCP’s Madhukar Kukde took the mantle on MP in a huge upset for the BJP. Patole joined the Congress Party in January 2018 and is contesting elections from Nagpur this year where he faces off against BJP heavyweight Nitin Ghadkari.
The caste factor cannot be ignored in Bhadara – Gondia that has over 18 lakh voters, 4 lakh of whom belong to the Kunbi community, 3.25 lakhs from the Teli community and about 1 lakh members of the Dhivar community that is traditionally associated with fishing. The constituency also has 2.25 lakh Powars, 3.5 lakh Scheduled Castes (SC) and also approximately 50,000 Muslims. Both the BSP and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) have fielded candidates.