Wardha, Apr 14: Once represented by Congress stalwart Vasant Sathe, Wardha Lok Sabha constituency is all set to witness a straight fight between Congress nominee and BJP candidate for the April 20 polls. Congress nominee and sitting MP Prabha Rau is pitted against Suresh Waghmare of BJP in Wardha. Rau had prevailed over Waghmare by a slender margin of 7,062 in previous election and the then newly-floated NCP candidate Datta Meghe had finished third.
BJP has dumped two of its winning candidates, Chunnilal Thakur (Bhandara) and Namdeorao Diwate (Chimur) in Vidarbha but has surprisingly retained Waghmare, a defeated candidate from Wardha for this year's election.
A six term MLA, Rau was a minister in Maharashtra cabinet for several years and president of Maharashtra pradesh Congress committee (MPCC) and later elevated as Congress Working Committee (CWC) member, general secretary All India Congress Committee (AICC).
Banking on her rich experience in politics, Rau is on a whirlwind tour of her constituency and has covered entire area in first round.
Since Congress, NCP and republicans have forged an pre-poll alliance, she is more confident this time.
Bureau Report