Ramtek now a 3-way contest, VBA's Gajbhiye to sting Cong

Nagpur: The Congress decision not to renominate Kishore Gajbhiye from Ramtek in Lok Sabha polls might just prove costly, as the former bureaucrat has now filed nomination on a Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) ticket.

Speaking exclusively to TOI, Gajbhiye said, “I was the rightful claimant for Ramtek seat from Congress based on my 2019 performance.”

The suave ex-IAS officer says he feels equally at ease in the world of politics, which is considered by many to be ‘murky’.

“I have never differentiated between people based on caste, religion, social status etc. For me politics is just an extension of the social work I was already doing,” said Gajbhiye.

Since 2014 assembly polls, this will be Gajbhiye’s third electoral battle and each time he has fought on a ticket from a different party. In 2014, Gajbhiye contested from North Nagpur assembly constituency on a BSP ticket.

For 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Gajbhiye had joined the Congress and contested from Ramtek against sitting MP Krupal Tumane.

While Gajbhiye was the runner-up, there was considerable increase in Congress’ votes. Compared to 2014, the grand old party got almost 1.3 lakh more votes with Gajbhiye as candidate. Based on his performance, Gajbhiye felt that he should have been given a second chance.

Gajbhiye’s enigma surprises many as regardless of the party he joins, a sizeable vote bank follows. Whether this vote bank is of the party itself or whether Gajbhiye adds to it, is open for interpretation.

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