The NCP has fielded Bhujbal's nephew and former MP Sameer Bhujbal from Nashik and Dhanraj Mahale, son of senior socialist leader Haribhau Mahale from the Dindori seat.
Chhagan Bhujbal, OBC strongman and Veteran leader of the Nationalist Congress Party is facing an existential crisis. Out of jail last year facing charges in the alleged Maharashtra Sadan scam is touring extensively in Nashik and Dindori Lok Sabha constituencies in a bid to retain what was once his pocket borough. In 2014, Bhujbal had lost to Shiv Sena nominee Hemant Godse who won Nashik seat by 1,87,336 votes. The BJP candidate Harischandra Chavan retained Dindori seat defeating NCP nominee Narhari Zirwal riding on the Modi wave in the 2014 election.
However, much water has flown under the Godavari. The NCP has fielded Bhujbal's nephew and former MP Sameer Bhujbal from Nashik and Dhanraj Mahale, son of senior socialist leader Haribhau Mahale from the Dindori seat. Bhujbal hopes that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray's decision to support his party will benefit his nephew in Nashik. On the other hand, NCP is determined to cash in on the division in BJP in the neighbouring tribal dominated Dindori seat where BJP replaced incumbent MP Harichandra Chavan by Bharati Pawar who left NCP to join the BJP.
Bhujbal duo was jailed for over two years in connection with the alleged Maharashtra Sadan scam. The opposition wants to make this as the master narrative whereas the Bhujbal family wishes to counter this with their development story.
However, Bhujbal told DNA,'' People of Nashik in particular love and support us and will vote for Sameer as he had worked quite hard to promote the development of Nashik during his earlier tenure as MP between 2009 and 2014.''
The other part of the plan is social engineering as both the constituencies have a considerable amount of Mali(Bhujbal's community) and other OBCs as well as Maratha population. The idea is to tap both of them.
Bhujbal, who hails from the politically influential Mali community, scoffed at the reports that Marathas are reluctant to vote for NCP in Nashik. ''On the contrary, all sections of the society including Maratha, OBCs, minorities are coming forward extending their support to the party,'' noted Bhujbal.
However, Shiv Sena is not leaving any stone unturned to retain Nashik seat. This is despite a section of BJP who is not happy with its alliance.
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