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VNM jumps into poll fray, declares 1st list of candidates

Nagpur: Vidarbha Nirman Manch ( VNM ), a collaboration of many small pro-Vidarbha outfits, announced its entry into Lok Sabha polls by declaring the first list of candidates on Friday. The candidates would be contesting from Nagpur, Bhandara, Ramtek, Chandrapur, Wardha and Amravati.

Its second list would be out on March 20, where it would declare names for Yavatmal, Akola, Buldhana and Gadchiroli.

This is for the first time that statehood activists have jumped into poll fray in its long history of struggle.

The list, however, does not have any big names of known protagonists like former advocate general Shreehari Aney, ex-MLA Wamanrao Chatap and Rajkumar Tirpude. Chatap said he was contesting assembly polls from Rajura constituency in Chandrapur and Tirpude also intended to do so. Aney’s wife is facing some health problems.

“We will be fighting the polls just like an agitation for statehood, which is our sole aim. We’re fighting on all fronts against the BJP-led governments at the Centre and state,” Chatap told mediapersons.

Without naming anyone, he said the elected leaders had given written assurances of raising statehood demand in Parliament before the 2014 polls and then took a U-turn. “They now issue threats of thrashing those demanding separate state. Earlier, Congress misled the people for all these years and therefore, we had high hopes from the BJP. But now their president Amit Shah says it’s not on their agenda despite promises made in 1993 and 1997 conventions,” he added.

Suresh Mane, founder president of Bahujan Republican Socialist Party (BRSP), said the BJP-led government failed to deliver on all issues plaguing the region like farmer suicides, unemployment and irrigation among others. “Various reports from Kelkar and Vidarbha Statutory Development Boards (VSDB) clearly indicated massive backlog in the region. However, successive governments miserably failed to give justice. Now, the people have option to change the scenario by voting in favour of VNM candidates,” he said.

The VNM comprises Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti (VRAS), Vidarbha Rajya Aghadi (Viraa), BRSP, AAP, Rashtriya Jansurajya Party, Dhote Vichar Manch, Vidarbha Maza, Lokjagar Party and other organizations. Ram Neole, Devendra Wankhede, Neeraj Khandewale, Mangesh Telang, Rajesh Kakade, Dhyanesh Wakudkar, and others shared the dais.

VNM candidates

Nagpur: Suresh Mane (Bahujan Republican Socialist Party)

Bhandara: Devidas Lanjewar (Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti)

Ramtek: Chandrabhan Ramteke (Rashtriya Jansurajya Party)

Chandrapur: Dashrath Madavi (Bahujan Republican Socialist Party)

Wardha: Gyaneshwar Wakudkar (Lokjagar Party)

Amravati: Narendra Kathane (Rashtriya Jansurajya Party)

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