Nilangekar, the grandson of Congress veteran and former CM Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar, was credited for BJP's stellar performance in Latur zilla parishad and municipal corporation polls
What went wrong for BJP in Nanded
- BJP's vote share goes up from 3.81% to 24.64%, but fails to convert into seats
- Nilangekar's 'Ravan' barb against Chavan didn't go well with voters in latter's home turf
- Congress wins over Muslim votes, at the cost of Owaisi's MIM
- Shiv Sena's decision to go solo leads to division of votes in at least 28 seats
- Nilangekar fails to capitalise on Fadnavis' campaign point
Maharashtra's Minister for Labour and the blue-eyed boy of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Sambhaji Patil-Nilangekar, has failed to repeat his 'magic' in Nanded-Waghela municipal corporation. The bitterly fought election saw the BJP failing to make any headway from the two seats it won in 2012 polls, and ending up with a meagre six seats.
Nilangekar, the grandson of Congress veteran and former CM Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar, was credited for BJP's stellar performance in Latur zilla parishad and municipal corporation polls. Nilangekar's performance in his home district made Fadnavis pick him to lead BJP's campaign in the bastion of Ashok Chavan, former CM and state Congress chief, and wrest power in the 81-member civic body.
Nilangekar camped there for over a month. He lured some disgruntled Congress corporators and local leaders and gave them party nominations. On top of it, he made Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Chikhlikar campaign for BJP notwithstanding Sena's criticism.
Nilangekar's move to paint Chavan as 'Ravan' at the first campaign rally and divide parties did not go well with voters. Further, BJP failed to cash in on two poll rallies addressed by Fadnavis in which he sought majority to transform Nanded.
This apart, Nilangekar made all out efforts to reach out to the Congress' traditional vote bank including Muslims and minorities which helped BJP to increase its vote share to 24.64 per cent from 3.81 per cent it received in 2012 election. "This helped the BJP to emerge as number two in several seats, but was not able to convert it in to seats. Congress mustered support from Muslim community which had voted for MIM in last election. More importantly, Chavan's emotional appeal is believed to have worked in favour of the Congress. In addition to this, Shiv Sena's decision to go solo and campaign by Uddhav Thackeray and Ramdas Kadam cost BJP in at least 28 seats due to division of votes,'' admits Nilangekar.
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