Battle of prestige for Congress, BJP in Chimur

Chimur, Maharashtra, Nov 29 (UNI) The ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are fighting a battle of prestige in the by-election to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Chimur constituency in Chandrapur district of Vidarbha. Vijay Wadettiwar of the Congress is locked in a virtual straight fight with Ramesh Gajbe of the BJP for the by-poll slated for December 4.

The outcome is crucial for the Congress because it wants to demonstrate that the Shiv Sena's victory here in 2004 was just a flash in the pan. The BJP, on the other hand, would like to prove that Chimur is essentially its stronghold, a claim it made when it took the seat from the Shiv Sena, in the process straining the relations between the two parties.

Mr Wadettiwar won from here in 2004 contesting on a Shiv Sena ticket. He quit the Shiv Sena and the Assembly to join the Congress recently. The by-poll has been necessitated by his resignation.

Much is at stake for congress leader Narayan Rane at the personal level, too, at the poll, since Mr Wadettiwar is his known loyalist.

Mr Rane is, therefore, camping here and will stay till the voting is over. BJP state unit chief Nitin Gadkari also has a lot at stake here, since he was instrumental in getting the seat for his party from the Shiv Sena for the by-poll.

The Congress is highlighting the development angle in the campaign, asserting that the people did not want the communal brand of politics, and is concentrating on the urban areas. The BJP, on the other hand, is highlighting problems like farmers' suicides and load shedding in its campaign, and is focussing on the rural areas.

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