Nashik: Two prominent Congress leaders — former state minister Rohidas Patil and Nashik district party chief Tushar Shewale — are in race to bag party’s ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Dhule constituency.BJP, which is winning the Dhule seat for the last two terms, is likely to continue with union minister of state for defence Dr Subash Bhamre.Dhule Lok Sabha includes six constituencies of which three are in Nashik district (Malegaon Outer, Malegaon Central and Baglan) while the remaining three are in Dhule district (Dhule city, Dhule rural and Sindkheda).Congress and BJP have two MLAs each, while NCP and Shiv Sena have one MLA each in these six constituencies. “After defeat in Lok Sabha polls in 2009 and 2014, Congress leader Amrishbhai Patil is not willing to contest from Dhule and has backed Patil,” Congress sources said.But age is a factor for Patil who is now 79-year-old. Due to this there is a possibility that the party could field a young face to take on the BJP.Shewale is the president of Nashik District Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj Sanstha and had defeated Dhule’s former BJP MP Pratap Sonawane in the outfit’s election in August 2017. He hails from Malegaon Outer state assembly constituency and can have influence on the three assembly seats that fall in Nashik district.Unemployment is a major issue in Dhule and industrialization is yet to pick up. The farming community comprises most of the population. Drought has been declared by the state government in all talukas in the constituency. Hence, distress of farmers is also a major issue apart from unemployment.In 2014 Lok Sabha election, Bhamre had defeated Patel a by margin of 1.31 lakh votes. While the former got 5.29 lakh votes, Patel received 3.98 lakh votes.

Stay updated with all the Latest Nashik headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.