In Chandrapur, Maharashtra, the Congress and BJP are engaged in a prestige war

In Chandrapur, a crucial Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha area, which would hold elections in their first phase on April 19, there will be a competition for prestige.

It would be a prestige problem for BJP’s Sudhir Mungantiwar, a six-time MLA from this area and the state’s minister of forests. Mungantiwar twice unsuccessfully ran for the Legislative Assembly in the 1990s. Mungantiwar has served as an MLA from this region for about 25 years.

Pratibha Dhanorkar, the Congress candidate and first-time MLA from this town of Warora, has the chance to demonstrate her abilities, as Chandrapur was the only seat the party was able to win in Maharashtra in 2019 after her late husband Suresh Dhanorkar defeated four-time BJP MP Hansraj Ahir. Prestige, therefore, is at play here, both personal and professional.

While Dhanorkar maintains that unemployment is high among the educated young in the region, Mungantiwar is relying on development projects and the institutions that he claims have opened up in Chandrapur during his term. On the fringes of a public forum, she said, “The lack of small businesses and unemployment among educated youth are major issues.”

“I don’t check the other person’s work or the opponent’s report card. I am a kind person who supports everyone, even those in my own party and the opposition. Mungantiwar told The Tribune, “I have faith in my abilities because I have worked for the people.”

However, others believe that Dhanorkar has an edge since she is a female candidate and doesn’t lose out on opportunities to use the women’s empowerment card.

“While the BJP harps on “Modi Ki Guarantee,” Mungantiwar has failed to bring employment opportunities here, which are needed more than big buildings,” she remarked during her statement at a local public gathering in Warora.

As noted by political analysts, Suresh Dhanorkar profited from the conflict between Mungantiwar and Ahir in 2019.

Journalist and local resident Ravi Khade said, “Now Ahir’s supporters are trying to sabotage Mungantiwar’s campaign, which may make the contest a close one here.”

Despite being a BJP seat historically, the Congress was able to win it in 2019, and the race seems to be intriguing this time around as well since Dhanorkar has the backing of state Congress head Nana Patole.