With the Opposition continuously targeting the ruling NDA-government on agrarian crisis, seems like this Lok Sabha elections caste equations, the agrarian crisis, and water scarcity will be the key issues in the Dindori constituency of Nashik district in North Maharashtra.
According to the Hindustan Times, Nashik district in North Maharashtra is demographically divided mainly into three parts — areas dominated by tribals, Marathas and OBC communities. It is estimated that tribals and farmers together constitute over 60% of this constituency. The Dindori area has been in news for the past two years as a large number of farmers took out marches that highlighted the agrarian crisis in the area.
So aiming to woo the voters from the constituency, Dindori constituency will see a four-squared fight. CPI(M) leader JP Gavit, who is a seven-time and present MLA from the region and is largely popular among farmers and tribals alike, is pitted against candidates from BJP-Shiv Sena and NCP-Congress. The BJP-Shiv Sena and NCP-Congress alliance have been challenged by VBA candidate Bapu Kelu Varde, who is likely to bag votes from the OBC community, experts told the leading daily.
JP Gavit has said that his party has an advantage due to the strong support it gets from tribals and farmers. Gavit told the Hindustan Times, “I tried to reason with NCP to leave this seat for me. This would have worked to their advantage and ours. Right now, with an NCP candidate contesting the elections, we face the threat of splitting votes. This is in-turn going to benefit the BJP by giving them an upper hand.”
Even BJP is confident that Gavit will get more votes. Tushar Waghmare, BJP general secretary of Dindori tehsil told the leading daily, “With Gavit himself contesting, it is likely he will get more votes than the CPI(M) candidate did in 2014. But NCP and CPI(M) are going to take away a large portion of each other’s vote share.”
