BJP boat likely to sail on Modi factor despite farm, job crises

Raver | Jalgaon: Raver and Jalgaon are two constituencies in North Maharashtra which have been a BJP stronghold. In Raver, the BJP has won all three Lok Sabha polls since the constituency came into existence in 2009 while in Jalgaon, it has never lost since 1998, winning six consecutive elections. However, this time, some unrest among voters and local leadership issues are at play in both constituencies. The BJP is banking on the Modi factor which helps offset the differences within the party on the ground.

Khadse family battle:
In Raver, BJP MP Raksha Khadse is seeking a hattrick and her challenger is a businessman-turned-politician, Sriram Patil, who is contesting for the first time on Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP. Raksha is the daughter-in-law of former BJP leader Eknath Khadse, referred to as "Natha Bhau" in Raver. Khadse's daughter, Rohini, lost the 2019 assembly election on a BJP ticket and he blamed it on the state BJP leadership. Eknath Khadse and Rohini joined the NCP while Raksha stayed with BJP.


With Raksha getting a ticket again, Eknath Khadse is campaigning for his daughter-in-law despite being an NCP MLC, showing his willingness to joing the BJP. Rohini, who is the state president of the women's wing of Sharad Pawar's NCP, is campaigning against her sister-in-law.

"There is some reluctance among the voters this time. But they all want Modi to become the PM again," Eknath Khadse told ET while campaigning in Raver. "I am all willing to join the BJP. But there are some local leaders who are opposing it. I may join post the elections."

Samadhan Patil, a BJP Gath Pramukh in Pahur block, is going door-to-door with a dummy EVM showing the people how to vote for BJP. "We try to touch almost 500 houses every day. Raksha tai will win easily," he told ET.

Akash Patil (23), a seller at an agriculture product shop in Jamner, says, "There is no employment opportunity here. A textile park was supposed to be built in Jamner. But no work has taken place."

"I have given a timeline for providing jobs in the area. I may be new to politics but I have been working for the past 15 years and am aware of the issues," Patil told ET. NCP leader Sharad Pawar has put his heft behind Patil and it has become a prestige battle between Khadse and Pawar.

Modi factor vs farm crisis:
The sight of farm distress is visible as one enters the Jalgaon Agriculture Mandi. Sambhaji Patil from the nearby Wavarda village is a farmer who also has a government job. "Had the government job not been there, it would have been difficult to survive with a family," he said.

Patil laments that the price of soybean was ₹4,000 per quintal in 2014 when the Modi government came with a promise of doubling farmer's income. "In 10 years, it is still ₹4,000 per quintal. You give ₹6,000 to farmers in PM Kisan and charge 18% GST on agriculture products. The DAP bag which used to cost ₹400, now costs Rs 1,800. It's like giving from one hand and taking more from the other hand," he said.

When it comes to his voting preference, "Koi option nahi hai. Modi kuch to achha kar raha hai (There is no option. At least Modi is doing something better)," said Patil.

The heat of the farm crisis is being felt by BJP Jalgaon candidate Smita Wagh. "Yes, there are issues with the farmers and they complain also. Cotton prices are down. I am just trying to make them understand that this is due to international prices," Wagh told ET. "We are promising that once the Modi government comes back, these issues will be resolved. They would vote for us."

Wagh, a former MLA, is contesting Lok Sabha election for the first time.

At a joint meeting of the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP Jalgaon district president Ashok Ladvanjri expressed confidence in the victory of the Shiv Sena candidate. The BJP had won earlier because it had the Shiv Sena with it, he said. "Now the Shiv Sena (UBT) is with us and the Eknath Shinde faction has no presence here. The farmers too are disgruntled this time and will vote for the Shiv Sena candidate," he said.

In 2019, BJP candidate Unmesh Patil won the seat with a margin of more than four lakh votes. It is this margin that makes Wagh confident despite the heat and dust on the ground.