Ex-CM Ashok Chavan fails to deliver for BJP in Maharashtra's Nanded

SAMBHAJINAGAR: Former CM Ashok Chavan has not delivered for the Mahayuti as BJP lost the Lok Sabha seat in his pocketborough of Nanded.
The BJP welcomed Chavan, who left Congress ahead of the LS elections, and offered him an RS berth. With Chavan on their side, BJP expected the Nanded contest to be a cakewalk. However, the party faced embarrassment after sitting MP Pratap Patil Chikhalikar's loss.Moreover, amid hopes of Chavan exerting his influence in Marathwada, the BJP lost all four LS seats in the region. Even if Chikhalikar was fighting for the second term from Nanded, it was Chavan's prestige which was at stake during the LS elections.
Since the beginning of the poll campaign, Chavan met with resistance from those supporting Maratha reservation. The resistance was seen multiple times, especially in rural belts where Chavan's convoy was stopped by Maratha activists. Chavan, who had earlier headed the sub-committee on the Maratha quota, could not tackle the heat over the issue and had to limit his poll campaign. Chavan in his defence said multiple factors affected poll prospects in Nanded and other places. "Maratha quota issue, swing of minority votes and farmer distress in some pockets affected the outcome. We will introspect on these issues," he said, adding it was heartening to see NDA was back in office.