Munde, Awle, Padmasinh, Khaire, Danve, Suryakanata amongst big wigs in Marathwada

Aurangabad / Maharashtra, May 15 / ( Janak Joshi) - Verdict for general elections today will decide fate of about 157 candidates amongst 7 legislators, 3 MP’s, one Union and one state Minister today in eight constituencies of Marathwada region. Big wigs like BJP stalwart Gopinath MundeGopinath Munde, Congress working President Jayawant Awle, NCP strong man Padmasinh Patil, Union minister of State Suryakanta Patil and saffron alliance’s Chandrakant Khaire and Raosaheb Danve who are seeking third time entry in Loksabha are amongst who are in fray.

Voting for general elections were held in two phases in Marathwada. For the first phase scheduled on April 16 in Parbhani, Hingoli and Nanded 52 candidates were in fray and in second phase about 105 contesters fight from Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed, Osmanabad and Latur on April 23. Most interestingly each candidate is confident about victory.

Aurangabad observed multi dimensional fight where sitting MP Chandrakant Khaire is looking third time entry in Loksabha. He had major challenges from an independent Shantigiri Maharaj and Congress man Uttamsinh Pawar. Apart from these big Subhash Patil from MNS, Manik Shinde of Kranti Sena and Sayyed Salim Maidawala from BSP were amongst 22 candidates in fray. Election expert’s believes that the percentage of votes bagged by Maharaj will decide the winning candidate in Aurangabad.

The neighboring Jalna constituency observed direct fight between sitting MP Raosaheb Danve and Congress legislator Dr. Kalyan Kale. About 19 candidates were in fray amongst BSP’s Rajpalsingh Rathod is expected to play significant role for victory of any candidate.

Battle in Beed will remain significant across the state where BJP strong leader and legislator Gopinath Munde contested his first general election against NCP’s Ramesh Adaskar. NCP chief Sharad PawarSharad Pawar has made this seat as prestige issue where caste factor is expected to play an important role then any developmental issues. About 21 candidates are in fray, however direct fight is between Munde and Adaskar.

About 25 candidates contested polling in Osmanabad constituency. Here direct fight is observed in two legislators, NCP stalwart Dr. Padmasingh Patil and Shiv Sena’s Ravindra Gaikawad.

Latur, home town of former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was reserved for SC candidate. Congress fielded parties working President Jayawant Awle against BJP’s Sunil Gaikawad. BSP’s Babasaheb Gaikawad, RPI (D) candidate T.M.Kamble were amongst 18 candidates in constituency.

Fight in Nanded which is home town of Chief Minister Ashok Chavhan will also remained significant where his brother in Law Bhaskar Patil Khatgaonkar is in the fray. He was been defeated by sitting BJP MP D.B. Patil, however Patil was replaced by the new face Sambhaji Pawar and party is all set to retain this seat. Overall 22 contesters were in fray and fight will remain directly between Congress and BJP. Former Deputy Mayor of NCP Adv. Maqbul Salim moved to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Preeti Shinde of Jansurajya Party are also expected to split votes of big wigs.

In Parbhani this was the first electoral battle after sitting Sena MP Tukaram Renge Patil switched over to Congress after remaining absent for the trust vote motion during the nuclear deal last year that benefited UPA government. 19 candidates remained in fray where NCP candidate Suresh Varpudkar, Shiv Sena’s Adv. Ganesh Dudhgaonkar and BSP’s Rajashree Jamge are the major contester.

Hingoli which is comparatively small constituency has 11 candidates in race amongst sitting NCP MP and Union Minister of state Suryakanta Patil and Shiv Sena legislator Subhash Wankhede are the major contesters. Election experts said that an anti incumbency factor is expected to affect Suryakanta and Wankhde will get an easy swipe here.