NCP’s ‘Tick Tick’ remains: Eknath Khadse, Ramraje Nimbalkar win in Legislative Council elections
Mumbai: Eknath Khadse, who has been in political exile for the last three years, has finally come to an end. In the Vidhan Parishad elections, he has won with a resounding victory by getting the first number of 27 votes. Therefore, after three years, his voice will be heard again in the legislature. The BJP made great efforts for their defeat. But with the correct planning of the NCP, Khadse got the upper hand in the first round. Also, senior leader Ramraje Nimbalkar has sealed the victory.
The counting of votes was delayed by four hours due to Congress objections. Finally, after waiting for four hours, the election results were announced at 9 o’clock. Both the NCP candidates Ramraje Nimbalkar and Eknath Khadse have emerged victorious while Sachin Ahir and Amashya Padvi have also emerged victorious. As 11 candidates are in the fray for 10 seats in the Legislative Council elections, it was already decided that this election will be a tough one. Therefore, in order to get the candidate for the 10th seat elected, there was a possibility of scattering of MLAs and horse-trading. Therefore, the election of the Legislative Council had become a subject of huge discussion.
After the victory of Khadse, the big cheers of the supporters
After the victory of Eknath Khadse, the activists made a big fuss. Numerous activists chanted victory slogans in the name of Khadse. Khadse supporters of senior leaders Sharad Pawar, Jayant Patil and Ajit Pawar thanked him saying that our leader was persecuted in BJP but now the NCP has given him a leaf.
After Khadse’s victory, Jallosh has started in Muktainagar. Khadse’s supporters celebrated his victory with the sound of drums, firecrackers and roses. Eknath Khadse’s congratulatory placards were put up in the city even before the verdict was announced.
Khadse supporters did not stop there. They danced ‘watermelon’ as they entered the legislature premises. Needless to say, the nickname “Watermelon” is used to refer to Khadse’s political enemies.
Eknath Khadse’s victory?
Eknath Khadse played a major role in the growth of BJP in Jalgaon district. For this he worked continuously for many years. While in the BJP, Khadse has also held several ministerial posts. Vidhan Bhavan has also been hailed as the Leader of the Opposition. Due to this, Eknath Khadse is known as a wealthy leader in the politics of the state. However, in 2014, when the BJP was in power in the state, Khadse, who was working as the revenue minister, was named in the alleged land scam at Bhosari in Pune and he had to resign from the ministry. Khadse was later accused of having a conversation with the wife of notorious goon Dawood Ibrahim. Khadse has repeatedly accused BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Girish Mahajan of political harassment. Eknath Khadse may try to get rid of all this by defeating BJP in various elections in Jalgaon.
The benefit will be after the entry in the Legislative Council
After Eknath Khadse joined the party, the Jalgaon district NCP was in full swing. Following Khadse, his supporters also joined the NCP. Khadse’s name was sent in the list of MLAs appointed by the governor. But even after two-and-a-half years, the governor has not sealed it. But now the NCP has decided to send him to the Legislative Council. Therefore, after Khadse’s victory, his voice will be heard in the legislature once again.
Big political challenge
Although Eknath Khadse lost the Muktainagar Assembly constituency in the 2019 elections, this taluka is considered as Khadse’s stronghold. However, under the leadership of Khadse, the NCP did not get power over the Bodwad Nagar Panchayats in the same fort. In this Nagar Panchayat election, only six NCP seats were elected. The NCP has not yet shown much influence in the district. At present there is only one NCP MLA in the district. Therefore, Shivdhanushya Khadse will have to increase the strength of NCP in the district in future.
