AURANGABAD: Sitting Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLC
Vikram Kale
is on the verge of registering hat-trick of wins in Marathwada teachers’ constituency polls and had registered a convincing lead over BJP-sponsored candidate Satish Patki on Monday.
Kale, who received support from the Congress, received as many as 22,724 first choice votes and was expected to cross the magic figure of 24,808 votes during the counting of second choice votes that was underway till late night. Patki is trailing behind distinctly after completion of first round of votes and has managed to secure only 12,511 votes.
At the time of going to the press, the formal declaration of results was yet to be made by the election authorities.
Routing speculations associated with anti-incumbency factor having its impact on the election results, Kale stunned the BJP which was high on confidence in continuing its winning streak observed in the region from the
Lok Sabha
polls to the recent civic body elections.
Among other candidates, VG Pawar of Marathwada Shikshak Sanghatana was at the third spot with 6,767 votes after first round of counting, followed by Yunus Patel (1,868) of Shikshak
Bachav Sangharsha Samiti
and Madhukar Unhale (1,365). Shiv Sena candidate Govind Kale could only manage to get 1,150 votes and was sixth in the race. A total of 49,615 votes were declared valid for counting.
Speaking with reporters, Kale said he chose to focus on reaching out to the voter teachers, instead of reacting to criticism made by opposition parties during campaigning.
On being asked whether his party had a lacklustre poll campaign as compared to the BJP-sponsored candidate, the NCP leader said teachers’ constituency polls are fought with a plan and it is unlike any other polls.
“Pursuing demand for release of grants for un-aided schools and lifting ban on recruitment of teachers will be my top priority as an MLC the constituency,” he said, expressing gratitude towards a group of organisations that extended their support to his candidature.
Meanwhile, the BJP insiders blamed a section of senior leaders for allegedly not giving their 100 per cent during campaigning where the party has never tasted success in the past.
Women and child development minister Pankaja Munde was only seen at the forefront of campaigning in different parts of Marathwada in support of Patki — once considered as close confidante of late BJP leaders Pramod Mahajan and
Gopinath Munde.
“Few top BJP leaders were expected to leave no stone unturned for Marathwada teachers’ constituency polls, but it did not happen leading to Patki’s defeat,” party sources said.
Analysing defeat, a section of political observers said caste equations played a crucial role among other factors. “Patki was not perceived as their leader by considerable section of stakeholders owing to his caste. Incidentally, Chakka Jam agitation observed across Maharashtra by Maratha groups nearly coincided with polling,” observers said.
“The incident of violence involving teachers during the October 4 cabinet meet last year might have left some adverse impact on Patki’s prospects,” they added.
When contacted, BJP spokesperson Shirish Boralkar said dominance of Congress-NCP barons in education sector was one of the reasons behind defeat of his party-sponsored candidate.
“During the last teachers’ constituency polls, we were at the fourth position from where we have now improved ourselves to second position. The party will carry out introspection in the defeat and would look forward to improve on its weaknesses,” he said.
A total of 87.33% polling was observed for
Marathwada teachers constituency polls
held on February 3.
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