Karjat Jamkhed sees a pitched battle between BJP's Shinde & NCP's Rohit Pawar

The Karjat Jamkhed seat is one which the BJP should feel confident about, the seat has been with the party for the last 25 years. During the last polls, Ram Shinde of the BJP went on to win by 84,058 votes even without the Sena eating in to his votes, this time in spite of the Shiv Sena being a part of the BJP-led alliance, Shinde is still sweating.

The contest has been livened up as the NCP has pitted Rohit Pawar, a third generation member of the Sharad Pawar family to take on Shinde. Rohit the grand son of Pawar’s eldest brother Appasaheb Pawar has taken to electoral politics like a fish to water.

His campaign focuses on how in spite of having Ram Shinde as the Minister the constituency has still not been developed, in each of his public meetings he tells the people that their region could benefit with a change in leadership. Rohit’s surname comes in handy as his supporters woo villagers with how having a Pawar to represent them could make the region similar to Baramati which developed under Pawar.

Water scarcity is a major issue in the elections, Rohit to emphasize that the government was not doing enough had sent in tanker water to the villages in Karjat jamkhed since last year. Rohit has also promised more employment opportunities and resolving issues of transport.

A lot many people are keeping an eye on the karjat Jamkhed contest not just those from the BJP, because Rohit is being seen by many as someone who could grow big in the NCP and challenge the hold that Ajit Pawar has in the party. The BJP is leaving no stone unturned to ensure Shinde’s victory. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already held two rallies and BJP Chief Amit shah is also set to hold a rally on the last day of campaigning. Shinde and BJP leaders like Fadnavis have been attacking Pawar claiming he is an outsider and a imported leader may not give justice. Another narrative that the BJP is spreading is that if Rohit Pawar wins then he won’t be able to do much for the constituency as the government will be from the BJP Sena.

While Shinde is facing anti incumbency and there are questions on how much he has done for the constituency, what may work for him is the caste factor. Shinde is from the OBC Vanjari community whose community has a sizeable presence in the constituency. Also with Pawar being from the Maratha community there is talk that the OBC community may consolidate in favour of shinde. BJP’s internal surveys show that the fight is quite close and that whoever wins or losses might be on a wafer thin margin.