The Congress party has formally announced its candidates for the upcoming bypolls in Nanded and Meghalaya. For the Nanded parliamentary bypoll, the party has chosen Ravindra Chavan, son of the late Vasantrao Chavan, who held the seat until his passing in August. The Congress has also named Jingjang M. Marak as its candidate for the Gambegre (ST) assembly bypoll in Meghalaya.
The Nanded Lok Sabha seat, now vacant due to Vasantrao Chavan’s demise, will see the bypoll on November 20, alongside the Maharashtra Assembly elections and the second phase of the Jharkhand polls. Notably, the late Vasantrao Chavan had secured a decisive victory in the recent Lok Sabha elections, defeating the BJP’s incumbent MP Prataprao Patil Chikhalikar by a margin of over 5 lakh votes. His victory came despite health challenges and the defection of several prominent figures, including former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who joined the BJP ahead of the polls.
However, the Congress’s focus has also been on criticizing the BJP-led government in Maharashtra. The party has accused the government of deliberately undermining the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a revered historical figure in Maharashtra and a symbol of Maratha pride. The Congress has pointed to the collapse of a 35-ft statue of Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, within a year of its construction, as evidence of the government’s negligence.
The Congress has also slammed the BJP for its alleged inaction on a proposed 696-ft statue of Shivaji Maharaj in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, a project initiated seven years ago. Congress General Secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh has accused the BJP of making empty promises (jumlas) regarding the statue and of deliberately abandoning the project.
Mr. Ramesh further criticized the BJP for removing a statue of Shivaji Maharaj from a prominent location outside the Parliament House, viewing this action as a deliberate attempt to disrespect the Maratha king and the people of Maharashtra. The Congress has vowed to fight back against what it perceives as the BJP’s disrespect for Maharashtra’s history and culture, promising consequences for the party in the upcoming elections.
The Congress’s strong stance against the BJP on this issue is likely to resonate with voters in Maharashtra, particularly those who hold Shivaji Maharaj in high regard. The bypolls and the Assembly elections are expected to be closely contested, with the issue of Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy potentially playing a significant role in swaying voters.
