Will RSS stronghold Nagpur bring in the BJP for the third time: Facts and Numbers

RSS stronghold Nagpur has for long kept alliance with the INC, however the past two general elections have witnessed a shift in allegiance. Read this piece to understand the possible happenings in Nagpur in the 2024 elections.

Overview of the Nagpur Lok Sabha Constituency

The Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency, a general category parliament seat, represents one of Maharashtra state’s 48 parliamentary seats, encompassing Nagpur city and portions of Nagpur district. 

The constituency comprises six Vidhan Sabha segments. 

Currently represented in the parliament by BJP leader Nitin Jairam Gadkari, an Indian politician from Maharashtra who is the current Minister for Road Transport & Highways in the Government of India. He is also the longest-serving Minister for Road Transport & Highways currently running his tenure for over nine years. 

Gadkari defeated the INC candidate Nana Falgunrao Patole in 2019 to retain the seat he won in 2014 by defeating Vilas Bhaurao Muttemwar, also representing INC. 

Strength Evaluation 

Since 1952, the Congress has held the Lok Sabha seat of Nagpur for 12 terms, including in a by-election 

Talking about state assembly seats, as per the last 2019 Assembly Election, BJP has 4 MLAs and INC has 2 MLAs from Nagpur Parliament Constituency.

Vote Percentage Breakup for Nagpur Constituency  ( 2009, 2014, 2019 )

Gadkari broke INC’s 4-time MP from Nagpur – Vilas Muttemwar’s winning streak in 2014 by beating him by more than 2,50,000 votes. BJP’s vote percentage in Nagpur has been increasing consistently from the past three terms whereas the INC after inculcating a major setback in 2014 improved its vote share in 2019, although still much lesser than the BJP. 

Religious Demography 

Nagpur is home to more than 75% Hindus, 14.4% Buddhists and 8.5% Muslims. Interestingly, Nagpur also hosts the RSS headquarters, an organization that is known to back the BJP and propagates the ideal of Hindu nationalism, an ideal synonymous with the central ruling party. 

BJP, RSS and the Nagpur Connection 

Nagpur, the founding city and headquarters of BJP’s ideological link RSS has long favored the INC in the Lok Sabha since independence with only Banwarilal Purohit from BJP managing to secure a win in 1996 before Gadkari. 

The 1996 win of the BJP in Nagpur might be associated with the sentiment of the Babri demolition. The 2014 and the 2019 wins of the BJP under the leadership of Gadkari were indeed significant in boosting the morale of the RSS in their host city, given there are more than 75% Hindus in the constituency according to the 2011 census. 

Nagpur Fight: 2024 General Election 

While the BJP has remained firm with their trust in Nitin Jairam Gadkari, their closest rival in Nagpur – INC has fielded sitting MLA from West Nagpur – Vikas Thakre against Gadkari. 

Thakre, a former mayor of Nagpur, reportedly has good support in the Nagpur Constituency and has even referred to his fight with Gadkari as an ideological battle. 

Still it would not be an easy fight for Thakre as Gadkari’s reputation, both in state and at the center, is to be a no-nonsense serious politician who delivers what is promised. 

Let’s see who bags up this high-profile seat in the upcoming elections.