Lok Sabha elections: Biggies on test, newbie AAP may play spoiler

NAGPUR: Voting on Thursday in Vidarbha will seal the fate of political bigwigs like Nitin Gadkari, Vilas Muttemwar, Mukul Wasnik, and Praful Patel locked in razor sharp contests.

AAP has fielded candidates, in almost all these seats. In at least a couple of constituencies — Nagpur and Chandrapur — the newbie is in a position to upset some apple carts, if not win.

The results will show how far the AAP factor has penetrated the hinterland.

Hence, it was no wonder that key campaigners from both major parties gave enough attention to the region. Narendra Modi addressed a string of rallies across Vidarbha including places such as Akola, Amravati, Chandrapur and Wardha. He visited Mahatma Gandhi's Sewagram Ashram writing a poignant note in the visitors' book. He made news for places he pointedly avoided — Nagpur and Bhandara-Gondia. It was rumoured Gadkari didn't want him in Nagpur fearing he'd alienate Muslim voters. At Bhandara, he didn't want to damage Patel who, like Modi, has a probusiness image and is a fellow Gujarati.

Sonia and Rahul pitched for their candidates. Sonia addressed rallies on the border of Nagpur and Ramtek as well as in Bhandara sharing the dais with Sharad Pawar. Rahul made multiple forays, starting much earlier holding sessions for Congress workers at Nagpur and Wardha, later addressing rallies. He even went to the remote and Naxalite-dominated Gadchiroli to push up prospects of Namdeo Usendi, the fi rst from a local tribe to become a doctor.

A Congress bastion, the region has seen BJP-Sena make inroads with the saffron alliance winning nine of 10 seats in 2004. Last time, Cong-NCP clawed back and won five.