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The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) assertion of its right to contest the Nandurbar seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha election seems assured, given its sitting MP, Heena Gavit, who secured victories for the party in 2014 and 2019, breaking the once-entrenched Congress stronghold. However, objections raised by Shiv Sena (Shinde) regarding Gavit’s candidature, combined with internal discord among local BJP leaders, have created a challenging situation for the saffron party.
Sources said to Indian Express that certain factions of local BJP leaders, aspiring for the Lok Sabha seat themselves, are covertly working to undermine Gavit’s position.
To address the escalating tensions, the state BJP has deployed Balasaheb Bhegde and Ashok Uike as observers to engage in discussions with Nandurbar BJP office-bearers and leaders to gauge the ground-level situation. Following a series of interactions with district party leaders, these observers will provide feedback to the state leadership.
While acknowledging the customary practice of retaining sitting MPs, a BJP source informed the Indian Express that the party may opt for a change in exceptional circumstances. These include situations of significant anti-incumbency within the constituency or concerns regarding the sitting MP’s ability to withstand strong competition from opponents, influenced by factors such as caste or community dynamics.
The Nandurbar Lok Sabha constituency, situated in the tribal belt of north Maharashtra, historically favored the Congress, with prominent leaders like Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi commencing their election campaigns from this region.
In 2014, Heena Gavit, a medical graduate with minimal political experience, emerged as a formidable force in electoral politics. Despite joining the BJP just two weeks before the Lok Sabha elections, Gavit, the daughter of senior minister Vijaykumar Gavit, defeated Congress stalwart Manikrao Gavit, who had held the seat for nine consecutive terms. Gavit’s success continued in 2019, further solidifying her position within the party.
