Maharashtra zilla parishad elections: BJP faces uphill task to win Dhule, Nandubar polls

NASHIK: After Nashik, the BJP is again up against the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the zilla parishad elections in Dhule and Nandurbar. The voting for the 56 seats in each of the two ZPs took place on Tuesday with a voters’ turnout of nearly 65% both in Dhule and Nandurbar.
In Dhule, BJP has put up candidates in all the 56 seats and the local unit exuded confidence that it would be able to defeat the combine Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP in the election.
“In five seats, we have won uncontested as the opposition failed to put up candidates. We are confident that our party will win the ZP polls in Dhule,” Anup Agarwal, the district BJP president said.
However, the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena combine is set to give BJP a run for its money. While Congress is contesting in 27 seats, NCP has put up candidates in 21 seats. Sena has put up candidates in the few of the remaining seats.
Former Dhule city MLA Anil Gote, who joined NCP recently, said the united opposition would ensure that the anti-BJP votes do not get split. “The BJP camp should not rejoice as they won five seats uncontested. Our combine will come to power,” added Gote.
In the tribal-dominated Nandurbar, BJP is locked in a direct contest with Congress in the ZP polls. Unlike Dhule, the Congress, Sena and NCP could not reach a pre-poll understanding here and all these parties are contesting the polls independently.
Despite this, BJP insiders in Nandubar admitted that it would be difficult for the party to win the ZP polls. BJP is contesting all the 56 seats, while Congress has put up candidates in over 48 seats. Similarly NCP candidates are in fray in over 37 seats and Sena in 41 seats.
“There is a pro Congress wave in many parts of the district as its legislator from Akkalkuwa, K C Padvi, has been made the tribal welfare minister in the new state government. We apprehend that it would help Congress win a majority in the seats,” said a BJP functionary from the district.