Lok Sabha polls: The other nine seats

AKOLA: Contest among sitting MP Sanjay Dhotre (BJP), Prakash Ambedkar (Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh) and Hidayat Patel (Congress). The dominant Dalit and Muslim populations are split between Patel and Ambedkar.

CHANDRAPUR: Sitting MP Hansraj Ahir (BJP) faces a tough battle from AAP’s Waman Chatap, a former MLA who is riding the Kunbi caste wave. Sanjay Deotale, a Maharashtra minister, appears to be trailing these two, thanks to infighting in Congress.

CASTE CALCULUS

BULDANA: Sitting MP Pratap Jadhav (Shiv Sena) is sitting pretty in a Maratha-dominated constituency, home to Shivaji’s mother Jijabai, with the NCP fielding a candidate being seen as weak — Krishna Ingle, a Mali — and ignoring three-time Maratha MLA Rekha Khedekar.

BHANDARA-GONDIA: Nana Patole (BJP), an MLA, poses a formidable challenge to union minister Praful Patel of NCP. Patel was helped by a Sonia rally while Patole couldn’t get “Patel friend” Modi to canvass for him. Yet, a combination of his Kunbi caste with the Powars, as also Telis and Kohlis, can work in his favour.

WARDHA: Sagar Meghe, winner of a primary, is fighting a powerful Teli community wave in favour of Ramdas Tadas (BJP). Alim Patel of AAP is likely to dent Meghe’s Muslim votes while the BSP’s tribal Chetan Pendam could take out some of his Dalit and tribal votes.

ANTI-INCUMBENCY
RAMTEK: Low-profile Kripal Tumane (Shiv Sena) poses a strong challenge to former union minister Mukul Wasnik (Congress) who, many on the ground say, has rarely been seen since 2009, when he defeated Tumane by a mere 16,000 votes on the ST seat. Tumane has since made wide public contact.

GADCHIROLI-CHIMUR: The Congress has replaced its sitting MP Marotrao Kowase for anti-incumbency with MLA Namdeo Usendi for this ST seat, the UPA’s model constituency for the Forest Rights Act, MNREGA and gram sabha empowerment. Former MLA Ashok Nete (BJP) is propped by a powerful alliance with locally influential parties Yuwa Shakti (with Congress last time) and Nag Vidarbha Andolan Samiti (BSP’s front last time).

YAVATMAL: Bhavna Gawli (Shiv Sena) was facing anti-incumbency but is now said to be riding a Modi wave. The Congress last-minute choice is state minister Shivajorao Moghe, who the party says has won over all party factions as well as the NCP.