Summary:
AURANGABAD: Shiv Sena MLA from Loha, Pratap Patil Chikhalikar , has been formally declared BJP candidate for the Nanded Lok Sabha seat while Congress has still kept everyone guessing about its nominee.According to the local unit of BJP, Chikhalikar will formally join BJP shortly. The two-time MLA, who is considered an arch-rival of sitting MP and state Congress chief Ashok Chavan, was in touch with the BJP state unit for the last few months.Banking on experience of Chikhalikar, the BJP camp has been trying its best to cause a major upset in the Nanded constituency, anticipating that Chavan would contest from there again.Chikhalikar attended closed-door meetings with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP state chief Raosaheb Danve and other leaders in the recent past to chart out a poll strategy to corner Chavan.Unhappy with Shiv Sena top-brass after he was ignored berth in the state cabinet and Jalna MLA Arjun Khotkar was inducted, Chikhalikar was also accused by the local Sena unit for anti-party activities following the routing of the saffron party in the municipal council polls in October 2017.Meanwhile, Bahuajan Vanchit Aghadi, comprising Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), has named Yashpal Bhinde of Dhangar community as the Lok Sabha candidate.Out of the six assembly constituencies in Nanded Lok Sabha seat, Bhokar, Nanded-north and Naigaon are ruled by Congress, whereas Nanded-south and Degular are held by Shiv Sena; BJP is in power at Mukhed.The Nanded Lok Sabha constituency, which has around 17 lakh voters, will go to the polls on April 18..