Nanded Election: Why Congress Won the Lok Sabha Despite BJP’s Success in Assembly?

Nanded: The 2024 Nanded elections have sparked widespread discussion due to the unexpected outcome where the BJP secured a victory in the Legislative Assembly, but Congress emerged victorious in the Lok Sabha by-election. This result has led to a flurry of debate on social media, especially as the region witnessed a wave of support for the Mahayuti (Grand Alliance) during the assembly elections.

While the BJP won the assembly seats in Nanded, the Congress candidate clinched the Lok Sabha seat. This surprising divergence, despite a wave of Hindutva and Mahayuti’s success in the assembly, has left many wondering why the Lok Sabha result was so different.

A Tale of Two Elections in Nanded
The Lok Sabha by-election, held simultaneously with the Legislative Assembly elections, was influenced by several unique factors. Despite a massive Mahayuti surge in the state, which saw all nine Legislative Assembly seats in Nanded go to its candidates, the Congress won the Lok Sabha seat. This could be attributed to a sense of sympathy for the late Vasant Chavan, the former MP who passed away in August, leading the Congress to nominate his successor,Ravindra Chavan.

Nanded’s Complex Voting Dynamics
Nanded, a district with a complex political landscape, saw various regional and religious factors come into play during these elections.

Nanded North Constituency: Nanded North witnessed a tough battle among 39 candidates, including former Mayor Abdul Sattar from Congress, BJP rebel Milind Deshmukh, and current Shiv Sena MLA Balaji Kalyankar. Despite expectations of a divided Hindu vote benefiting Congress, it was the slogan "Do you want Khan here or the arrow?" that resonated with voters, helping Kalyankar secure a close victory by 3,705 votes.

Nanded South Constituency: In this constituency, Muslim candidates were fielded by Congress, Shiv Sena, and Vanchit, while the MIM also had a contender. The vote here was divided among different communities. Ultimately, Shiv Sena’s candidate won by just 2,132 votes after intense competition.

Bhokar Constituency: Former chief minister and political stronghold Leader of Ashok Chavan, Bhokar saw his daughter, Srijaya Chavan, contesting from the BJP after Ashok’s shift to the party. Despite her expected victory, the Congress proved strong, with Ashok Chavan’s influence ensuring a decisive win for his daughter by over 50,000 votes.

Kinwat Constituency: In Kinwat, BJP’s Bhimrao Keram triumphed in a close contest against NCP’s Pradeep Naik. The tribal and Banjara vote in this constituency was crucial, and BJP won by 5,000 votes.

Mukhed, Naigaon, Degalur, Hadgaon: These constituencies witnessed a strong performance by the BJP and Sena due to their strategies targeting OBC groups and the "Ladki Bahin" initiative. BJP candidates won with substantial margins, ranging from 25,000 to 40,000 votes.

Loha Constituency: Loha, traditionally a stronghold of Pratap Patil Chikhlikar, saw his win after his defection from BJP to Ajit Pawar’s group. Chikhlikar defeated his sister Asha Shinde and Eknath Pawar by 11,000 votes.

Conclusion: The Real Reason Behind the Split Results
The Nanded election results, with BJP winning the assembly seats and Congress securing the Lok Sabha seat, reflect the complex political landscape of the region. While the Mahayuti's Hindutva wave was prominent in the assembly elections, sympathy for the late Vasant Chavan and localized political dynamics played a significant role in Congress's Lok Sabha victory. Each constituency had its own set of factors, from communal rhetoric to influential local leaders, that determined the outcome, making the split result all the more fascinating.