To take on Nitin Gadkari, Congress decides to field Nagpur MLA

MUMBAI: AICC’s central election committee late on Wednesday decided to field “reluctant” Nagpur West legislator Vikas Thakre against BJP heavyweight Nitin Gadkari in Nagpur, where the Union minister had defeated Nana Patole, the current MPCC president, by a huge margin.
The party finalised names of 14 nominees, even though MVA’s seat sharing pact has not yet been announced. Congress’s decision assumes significance since senior MVA leaders were scheduled to meet at NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar’s residence on Thursday to finalise the seat sharing formula, particularly for Sangli and Bhiwandi, the seats in dispute, and a few others demanded by Shiv Sena (UBT).
A Congress leader said of the 16-18 seats likely to be allotted to Congress, a decision has been taken on 14 to allow candidates to launch campaigns.
According to a senior Congress leader, Praniti Shinde will contest from Solapur, Shahu Chhatrapati from Kolhapur, Balwant Wankhede from Amravati, Ravindra Dhangekar from Pune, Dr Abhay Patil from Akola, Namdeo Kirsan from Gadchiroli, Gowashi Padvi from Nandurbar, Vasant Chavan from Nanded, Shivaji Kalge from Latur, Dayanand Chorge from Bhiwandi and Vishal Patil from Sangli.
The list sprung a few surprises. Wadettiwar’s daughter, Shivani, was expected to be fielded from Chandrapur. Even senior Congress leaders were surprised when his name was picked, instead. BJP has fielded minister Sudhir Mungantiwar from the seat.
It was initially proposed that Amravati would be allotted to Sena (UBT).
The name of Shahu Chhatrapati, the descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and head of the erstwhile Kolhapur royal family, was first proposed by Pawar, which was supported by Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut.
Vishal Patil has been fielded from Sangli despite Sena (UBT) staking claim to the seat. Its president, Uddhav Thackeray, had even declared wrestler Chandrahar Patil’s candidature from there. Ditto the case in Bhiwandi—NCP (SP) has staked claim to it.
Vasant Chavan will take on BJP’s Pratap Chikhalikar Nanded, which is the hometown of former Congress veteran Ashok Chavan, who recently defected to BJP.