1 week Ago
Nashik: The incumbency factor seems to be playing a huge role in the buzz about candidates battling it out in the upcoming election on Nov 20 for three assembly constituencies located across Nashik city — namely, Nashik East, Nashik West, and Nashik Central seats. A diverse range of poll agendas confront these nominees as the race intensifies. All three segments will witness sitting BJP MLAs fighting off a fresh challenge from either an opposition candidate or a rebel from within their own ranks, who broke away and joined a rival outfit after denial of a ticket.
Infra and safety in focus For instance, in Nashik Central, which spans two distinct zones — the congested old city areas, including Saraf Bazar and other ‘gaothan' areas, and the upscale localities of Gangapur Road, Sharanpur Road, Mumbai Naka and Kathegalli, a significant minority community population of around 70,000 supported MVA in the recent Lok Sabha elections. There are 30,000 to 40,000 Dalit voters too. The Maratha community with over 20% vote share will play a pivotal role in the result.
Two-time Nashik Central MLA and BJP nominee Devyani Pharande faces a challenge in this seat from Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Vasant Gite. Both hail from the OBC community. MNS has also fielded its candidate.
But many believe the party's influence on voters here is not strong enough. "People have seen my work over the past 10 years. I have brought various projects to my constituency and been extremely vocal on issues related to health, women's safety and education.
The party has shown faith in me for the third time for my work," says Pharande. Her challenger, Gite, says, "Our slogan is a safe Nashik without any fear from anyone. Nothing has happened over the past 10 years.
Nashik's name figured on the national map only in cases related to drugs and people are now fed up with the same." Besides rising crime, Nashik Central voters are concerned over lack of infrastructure development. Seat with most voters in district Meanwhile, despite housing two major industrial estates, Satpur and Ambad, Nashik West assembly seat lags in economic development.
Inadequate infrastructure such as roads and drainage systems are a primary reason that discourage new industries from setting up shop. The constituency, the largest (voter-wise) in Nashik district, is home to a significant working-class population, but there are not many healthcare facilities. The absence of a good recreational centre is another concern.
Residents of CIDCO housing projects, a good number of whom are from Khandesh, have problems related to water and development rights. Here, incumbent MLA Seema Hiray (BJP) is seeking a third victory in a row, but her political adversaries claim there is anti-incumbency, and she has failed to look beyond certain works like establishing green gyms, which are the duties of a corporator. The constituency is poised to see a fierce contest between two erstwhile party colleagues.
Dinkar Patil, former house leader in Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC), joined Raj Thackeray's MNS after BJP denied him a ticket. "There are no industries, no healthcare projects, no employment for local youths in the region. With the party ignoring my request, I chose a different path," Patil said.
Hiray, however, dubbed this as untrue. "Nashik West does not have a big chunk of land for industries. As far as infrastructure is concerned, most of the projects have been cleared by industries minister Uday Samant, and they will be taken up in the next term," she said, adding that a 100-bed hospital has been proposed at Ganesh Chowk that will be built after demolishing a closed NMC school.
What is likely to make it a triangular fight is the presence of the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate, Sudhakar Badgujar. He claimed Hiray has failed to resolve residents' issues and to shield her, the govt has falsely implicated his son in a criminal case. Dissent challenges incumbency The Nashik East segment includes areas of Panchavati and parts of Nashik Road division under NMC.
It carries significance as the Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years in Panchavati. Lakhs of sadhus and devotees take a holy dip in Ramkund on the Godavari river during the religious event. As per data, the seat has 45% Maratha and 22% OBC voters; the rest are from other communities.
Key issues in the constituency that voters want addressed include the major problem of Godavari river pollution, compensation to farmers for land surrendered to civic authorities in lieu of various Kumbh Mela-related projects, like Sadhugram and ring roads in Panchavati, encroachment on the Shahi Marg and development of gaothan areas. After a decade of the BJP at the helm of the constituency, sitting MLA Rahul Dhikle faces a challenge to retain the seat . After his five-year stint as MLA, Dhikle faces off against BJP dissident Ganesh Gite, contesting on an NCP (SCP) ticket.
Gite was former standing committee chairman of Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) for two years. He was keen to contest on BJP's ticket, but being denied the chance, recently joined NCP (SCP). Besides Dhikle and Gite, MNS has also fielded its candidate — Prasad Sanap — from the constituency.
However, most feel he is a new face and not strong enough to challenge the other two. He may cause some damage to Gite's vote share though, as both are from the same caste..
