Sudhakar Kohale
Sources said the local BJP cadre was working for the rebels rather than Sarnaik. Nagpur / Amravati: Sitting Congress MLC Abhijit Wanjarri and BJP’s Sudhakar Kohale face a direct fight in the Nagpur division graduates’ constituency, while rebellion and internal rifts have hit Mahayuti in the Amravati division teachers’ constituency. CM Devendra Fadnavis , Union minister Nitin Gadkari and guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule addressed rallies and meetings for Kohale across the division’s six districts. Wanjarri largely campaigned on his own, with senior Congress functionaries appearing at only one gathering.
Former mayor Milind Chimote, a member of the three-member Congress poll coordination committee, said party candidate Aditi Pohare was counting on support beyond Congress ranks. Chimote said, “Unlike BJP rebels who are working against each other with enmity, we are treating other candidates as fellow contestants. Deshpande said, “I am not a rebel. I told Dy CM Shinde that I don’t want the party ticket.
We are friendly with them, as voting is preferential and any second or third preference for Pohare from their voters will help. ” Former MLC Shrikant Deshpande of Shiv Sena, contesting as an Independent against Sarnaik, defended his candidature. I made it clear I would prefer to contest as an Independent. That’s why the party did not expel me.”