The BJP has had mixed success with its strategy of first calling incumbent parties corrupt and then ‘importing’ their disgruntled members to gain power in the State.
It was the winners among the 51 “imported” candidates who helped BJP move close to the 122 mark. Notable among such candidates were “giant-killers” like Sunil Deshmukh who won from the prestigious Amravati constituency defeating Congress leader and former President Pratibha Patil’s son Raosaheb Shekhawat. Deshmukh had left the Congress after being denied ticket.
Dr. Vijaykumar Gavit, who was ousted from the NCP, retained his traditional stronghold of Nandurbar for the BJP this time. Former NCP member Kisanrao Kathore, who filed his nomination from Murbad as a BJP candidate, won against the NCP candidate with a margin of over 25,000 votes. Former Congressman Prashant Thakur, who left the party on the issue of toll plazas, won the Panvel seat for the BJP.
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Not all ‘imported’ candidates were successful. Former NCP strongman and ex-minister Babanrao Pachpute, who crossed over to the BJP claiming he was insulted by another NCP stalwart, could not win the Srigonda constituency.
Former Minister and ex-Congressman Sanjay Deotale, who joined the BJP after being denied a ticket, lost to Shiv Sena candidate in Warora (Chandrapur). Former NCP leader Ajit Ghorpade, who joined BJP and contested from Tasgaon, lost to former Home Minister R.R. Patil.
Of the nearly 51 candidates imported by the BJP in the hope of cashing in on their local clout, around 35 were from the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party. The BJP also drew about a dozen candidates from the Shiv Sena. Some independents who were sure to win were given offers.
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