BJP relies on Nitin Gadkari's appeal, Congress on candidate's caste pull
BJP's nominee from this seat Nitin Gadkari. Gadkari is seeking a third term from this high-profile seat, where the RSS headquarters is located. He is targeting to win by a margin of over 5 lakh votes. His main challenger is local MLA and Congress Nagpur unit chief Vikas Thakre.
Nagpur, which was once a Congress bastion, has been with the BJP since 2014 when Gadkari first contested from here. Prior to that, the BJP won only once in 1996.
While the BJP is counting on the development brought in by Gadkari, his personal appeal and connection, the Congress is relying on the 'DMK' (Dalits, Muslims and Kunbis) factor. Thakre is an OBC and hails from the Kunbi caste.
Both BJP and Congress candidates have been refraining from making personal attacks and the usual bitterness seen during the speeches of the candidates against their opponents during election season is missing here.
Gadkari, who starts campaigning around 8 am, visits the interiors of the town on his rath, greeting voters and talking about the development and vision for the town. He talks about better infrastructure, jobs and making Nagpur the logistics hub of India.
When asked why he was not mentioning much about the Ram temple and abrogation of Article 370 — the two key issues of the BJP — Gadkari told ET that people knew about these things. «I want to convey to them my vision for Nagpur.»
On asked whether a Congress candidate can pose a challenge because of his caste, Gadkari says, «I have defeated Nana Patole, a bigger Kunbi leader than Thakre.
