The Congress has fielded its veteran leader and Minister for Social Justice, Shivajirao Moghe, a tribal himself, for the first time in the tribal belt of Yavatmal-Washim.
Once a known Congress seat held by Uttamrao Patil for five terms, it was snatched in 1999 by Shiv Sena's Bhawna Gawali, daughter of MP Pundlikrao Gawli. The 26-year old became the youngest MP in the 13th Lok Sabha (1999).
The three-time consecutive winner (1999, 2004 and 2009) now faces Moghe, a senior politician who has been a Minister in the government in various capacities for the past 30 years.
Moghe has been hand picked by Congress President Sonia Gandhi's political advisor Ahmed Patel after he called up the leader to gauge the mood of Yavatmal constituency. Other contenders for the seat were Rahul, son of MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre and Jeevan, who is son of former MP Uttamrao Patil.
Moghe is banking on tribal votes particularly from the members of Banjara community who have good clout. Besides, traditional Congress votes including those from Muslims are also expected to be in favour of Moghe.
He said a direct railway link to Yavatmal with broad gauge is his top priority.
The Centre was keen to spread network but it will be only with the 50 per cent financial contribution from the state government.
Another priority, Moghe said, is to bring 2.20 lakh hectares of land under irrigation in Yavatmal-Chandrapur area for cultivation through Lower Painganga project.
Since his nomination was finalised a day before the last date for filing papers on March 21, he has decided to lay emphasis on mass contact tours in Digras, Pusad, Arni, Umrekhed and Darwah areas of his constituency.
Bhawna Gawali is also banking on mass contact programmes and is on a spree of organising women's meetings and rallies.
She had attended the NDA grand alliance public meeting of BJP Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi in Wardha since there was no meeting in Yavatmal.
Modi will be addressing a poll rally on March 30 in Akola.
