NCP trenches tie with RPI’s Gavai faction

The three important names from Vidarbha have already been announced by the NCP. While Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel would be contesting from the Gondia and Bhandara seat, the South Indian starlet Navneet Rana and the debutant Krishnarao Ingle would be contesting from Amravati and Buldhana respectively. It is indeed a risky and a bold move, made by the NCP, fielding new and unknown faces in these regions, but then, that is what the Nationalist Congress Party is all about. In one of its interactions with the media, the senior party members had made it clear that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will pave way for a few new faces in the party, with the old ones looking after the other important aspects. For instance, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar would be contesting for a Rajya Sabha seat instead. Pawar had taken this decision as he said that it would allow him more time to concentrate on the party work. 

However, the Amravati decision taken by the NCP also signals the end of an era; the era that witnessed a tie between the RPI faction and the NCP. The decision will indeed have its own repercussions all over the state. Probably, the pent up emotions of the Dalits might burst forth too. However, it seems that the NCP is steadfast with its decision and is in no mood to relent into flimsy public opinions. On the flipside, NCP Leader Praful Patel would be of crucial help to his young party members, sharing all the experience that he has under his belt, in the absence of the NCP chief. Navneet Rana, who was keen on availing a ticket for the Lok Sabha elections from any party, has her aspiration fructified with the NCP. However, it is a calculated decision taken by the NCP party. Navneet Rana of being from the scheduled caste and the seat is especially reserved for that caste.  With RPI patriarch RS Gavai unwell and ageing, the party was seen as fumbling under his son Rajendra's stewardship. What finally snapped the long political marriage between RPI and NCP was that the latter insisted on Rajendra contesting from the seat on NCP's 'clock' symbol. Gavai did not agree to this, as it would mean a slight to the party floated by Babasaheb Ambedkar. Simply, this is how the political world is meant to be. Each party for its own! 

AIFF President Praful Patel who is stalwart and a man of resource for the NCP might not be threatened by BJP’s bet on Nana Patole. However, many believe that AAP might just play a spoilsport to Patel’s hopes and aspirations as US-returned techie Prashan Mishra will be gunning against Patel from the Gondia-Bhandara seat. However, for that to happen, the Aam Aadmi Party needs to stabilize itself, if it all it desires to make an impact in the upcoming elections. Wishful thinking! 

Lastly, Krishnarao Ingle, an ex-MLA has been chosen from Buldhana by the NCP, where the Shiv Sena has been winning repeatedly for the last few terms. Ingle has pipped Rekha Khedkar, who switched over to the NCP from the BJP. The political calculations of these parties might just take a detour upsetting so many of their plans. However, this is not going to stop them from putting in their best, allowing them to achieve desired results in the LS polls.