Lok Sabha election: After Maratha stir, BJP's Raosaheb Danve may not have it easy this time
BJP MP Lok Sabha Raosaheb Danve from Jalna, the epicentre of the Maratha protests, is battling anti-incumbency and anger from the Maratha community. Although Danve is a Maratha, his community is miffed with the BJP as it blames the party for not including the community in the OBC category for reservation in jobs and education.
The Maratha protests had its epicentre in Jalna where Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil first began his indefinite fast from Antarvali Sarati village demanding that the Maratha community be included in the OBC category. Danve's victory over the last two elections over his Congress rival Vilas Autade has been more than 2.5-3 lakh. But this time, there could be a tough contest.
For starters, the Congress has dropped Autade and given the ticket to Kalyan Kale who contested against Danve in 2009 and lost. Danve's victory against Kale was by a margin of just 8,482 votes. Kale was a two-term MLA from Phulambri assembly constituency.
The Maratha anger is clearly visible. Three days ago, Danve's campaign convoy was stopped in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in Palshi village by irate members of the Maratha community who didn't want Danve to campaign in the constituency. It's not just Maratha anger, there are also complaints of Danve not delivering and the need for a change in the constituency. «It's been more than 15 years. It is time for a change now, we need change,» says Nitin Kale of Warodi village near Bednapur near Jalna.
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