The Congress can improve its position in Vidarbha region if it fields the Maharashtra PCC chief Manikrao Thakre for the Lok Sabha elections from Yavatmal-Washim seat.
A senior party MP from the state is said to have suggested this to the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi here recently. “We can win one or seven seats from the region in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections if the leadership takes some corrective steps,” said the Congress insiders.
Mr Thakre had worked with three chief ministers — late Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ashok Chavan and the current CM Prathiviraj Chavan. Currently, the Congress has won four of the total 10 Lok Sabha seats from the region which was once known as the party’s stronghold. They told the Central leadership to back the BRP leader Prakash Ambedkar in the Akola seat which will help the party in getting dalit votes in other constituencies. The Congress should not back anybody from the family of R.S. Gavai in Amravati.
In Chandrapur, the Maharashtra minister Sanjay Deotale can defeat the BJP’s sitting MP Hansraj Ahir.
They said the Congress will find it difficult to retain Nagpur and Ramtek seats. This is because the former BJP chief Nitin Gandkari will be taking on the Congress’ seven term LS member Vilas Muttemwar. “Gadkari will not only be the BJP candidate solidly backed by the RSS but he has made inroads in the Congress and its dalit constituency,” they observed.