Summary:
Congress will be banking on Muslim and Dalit votes while BJP will eye Maratha and OBC votes. VBA leaders feel that these two communities plus a section of OBCs would support its candidate instead of Congress. Dhotre had polled 4.56 lakh votes, Patel 2.53 lakh and Ambedkar 2.38 lakh. If any of the two contest the election it will become a triangular one instead of a straight one. If Ambedkar fields a strong candidate other than himself or his wife then too the situation would be the same.In 2014, the constituency witnessed a triangular fight between Dhotre, Patel and Ambedkar..