Nagpur: In the ensuing election during the month of December this year the position of present Congress party Member of Legislative Council (MLC) and former minister Rajendra ‘Baba’ Mulak appears to be most insecure as the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is laying a foolproof besiege to win the MLC seat from the local self-governing constituency segment.
It may be mentioned that the sitting members from Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Nagpur Zilla Parishad and all Nagar Parishad-members of Nagpur district vote for the election of MLC candidate to the State Legislative Council. In the present scenario, the BJP has its influence over the local self-governing bodies like NMC and Nagpur Zilla Parishad wherein the party is in majority, though the BJP is in minority in Nagar Parishads.
However, if there is no rift within the BJP, the BJP candidate is sure to become an MLC. The BJP, keeping in view the forthcoming election of MLC, wants to launch the most promising candidate in the field, because it has to ensure its majority in the State Legislative Assembly also. But, the party is slightly perplexed as to who should be given official candidature among several claimants.
Among major claimants of MLC candidature, there are Nagpur Rural BJP president Dr Rajiv Poddar, NMC Standng Committee’s former chairman Sandeep Joshi, State BJP Spokesperson Girish Vyas, former president of Zilla Parishad Ramesh Mankar and NMC Mayor Pravin Datke.
Datke may be chosen as the most suitable candidate as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari may jointly agree over his name. Moreover, Datke is found to be most active in present politics, and he has a good public image as well. This qualification of his is presenting him before the party as a young, dynamic and prospective candidate in terms of political leadership.
However, Joshi and others within the party never want that Datke should prosper in the party. Besides, Mankar and Poddar also claim their loyalty to Gadkari faction. Now it is to be seen as to what Gadkari does.
On the other hand, Ranjendra ‘Baba’ Mulak does not enjoy Congress party support these days, and his chances to return to the Council as an MLC again are meek. Even Congress voters are far distancing from him due to his high profile characteristics, and there is no personal relationship between voters and Mulak. What is irritating the voters is that Mulak has failed to provide any money from his development-fund for development work of his constituency, and so he is likely to suffer his voters’ ire in terms of his defeat in the ensuing MLC election. Therefore, the BJP is highly hopeful of winning the MLC seat. Nevertheless, the role of voters is always upper in the race of candidates.
– Rajeev Ranjan Kushwaha ( rajeev.nagpurtoday@gmail.com )
