Nashik: Senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil’s failed efforts to secure the Ahmednagar seat for his son Sujay notwithstanding, another veteran leader from north Maharashtra is pitching for his son to be nominated from the family’s pocket borough of Nandurbar.Manikrao Gavit, the veteran tribal Congress leader, has been winning all Lok Sabha polls in Nandurbar since 1981. In 2014, however, he was humbled by a young Heena Gavit, who fought on a BJP ticket from that seat. Gavit has already met Congress president Rahul Gandhi seeking nomination for his son Bharat.“I will not contest this Lok Sabha elections due to my advanced age. But I am trying hard to ensure my son gets the ticket to represent in the polls from Nandurbar so that my son can continue the winning streak for the party that I had maintained till 2014,” Gavit told TOI.Gavit still holds the record of being elected maximum number of times to the Lok Sabha from Maharashtra. He was extremely close to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and shares a close rapport with 10 Janpath.The octogenarian leader said that he had travelled to Delhi last month and met Rahul Gandhi, senior party leaders including Ahmed Patel and Mallikarjun Kharge. “There is no harm for trying a ticket for my son. He is young and is a dedicated Congress worker like me. I feel that he can do a good job as a MP,” added Gavit.His 48-year-old son, Bharat, has been the former president of the local zilla parishad. Manikrao, however, ruled out any possibility of his son joining any other party in case he is denied a ticket by the Congress leadership. “I am a dedicated Congressman and will not allow my son to desert the party even if he does not get a ticket. I will help the one who gets the Congress ticket in Nandurbar,” added Gavit.Nandurbar Congress unit insiders said that it would not be an easy task for Bharat to get the party’s nod to contest the polls.Six-time tribal Congress MLA from Akkalkuwa in Nandurbar, K C Padvi, has emerged as a strong contender for the ticket as majority of the senior leaders of Nandurbar is backing his candidature. Padvi has a clean image, Congress sources said.“It’s true that I am trying for a ticket and Gavit too is trying for his son. But there is no animosity between us. The entire district Congress will rally behind the one who gets the green signal to fight the polls,” said Padvi.Vikhe Patil wanted the NCP to leave the Ahmednagar seat so that Sujay can contest. NCP refused to budge and Sujay joined the BJP.

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