Anup Dhotre: BJP's New Face Will Partake In A Triangular Fight In Akola (image:twitter.com/anupdhotre)
BJP leader Sanjay Dhotre has been representing the Akola Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra since 2004. Besides being an MP, he has served as a Union Minister of State during PM Modi”s second term. However, due to a health crisis, Sanjay Dhotre resigned from the ministerial post in 2022 and was not active in the political sphere thereafter. Therefore, the BJP leadership has nominated Anup Dhotre, Sanjay Dhotre”s son, for the Akola constituency in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Though a newbie in the electoral field, Anup Dhotre became active in the party”s organisational activities for a while. The party appointed him as Lok Sabha campaign chief six months ago after instilling faith in him. As per the reports, he is in good rapport with BJP workers in the region.
As mentioned, politics is a new territory for him. His contribution primarily resides in the business field. He owns a group of industries in Akola Industrial Estate, including Anup Engineering Works, Sonal Engineering Works, Nakul Industries, Sprinkler Set, and HDPE Pipes Manufacturing, ABP Live reports.
However, the party is also encountering criticism on the front of nepotism by contesting Sanjay Dhotre”s son. Even within the party in Akola, two factions are active: the Sanjay Dhotre group and the group run by former Minister of State for Home Dr. Ranjit Patal. Dhotre Group enjoys dominion in the region, whether in terms of political power or network of supporters. The internal strife between both groups is well-known and open. In such a context, how Anup Dhotre”s candidacy will sit with Patal”s group and influence the elections needs to be observed.
The Akola Lok Sabha constituency is known as the saffron party”s stronghold. However, upcoming polls are likely to witness a three-cornered fight, as Congress nominee Abhay Patil and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi candidate Prakash Ambedkar are also in the poll fray with Anup Dhotre. Abhay Patil, an orthopaedic surgeon by profession, is the general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.
Besides, reports state that Prakash Ambedkar”s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi is currently engaging in seat-sharing talks with Maha Vikas Aghadi. It is hoped that if both parties come together, Prakash Ambedkar”s party will gather strength. In the 2019 elections, Ambedkar lost the seat to Sanjay Dhotre by a margin of 2,75,596 votes. He has continuously fought Sanjay Dhotre in earlier elections as well.
