Lok Sabha polls 2024: ‘This time, BJP will face humiliating defeat in Jalgaon’

Karan Balasaheb Patil Pawar 37 is vying for a seat in Jalgaon with the Shiv Sena UBT having previously been aligned with the BJP His decision to switch sides came after his friend Unmesh Patil the outgoing BJP MP was denied a ticket which was instead given to former party MLC Smita Wagh Backed by Patil and others Pawar is now ready to challenge Wagh in what promises to be a closely contested battle As the town president of Parola village he brings grassroots experience to the table Recently Pawar spoke with midday during his campaign in JalgaonExcerpts from the interviewWhat made you quit the party and be a part of the Shiv Sena UBTIt was humiliating to stay in the party due to certain local leaders There is no point in staying around with such an atmosphere Moreover traditionally the BJP has always come to power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Senarsquos help It was the alliance with the unbroken Sena that always made the BJP windue to Senarsquos cadre and mass base supportThe outgoing MP Unmesh Patil was earlier with the BJP and now switched sides What will you say about work that has not been doneDespite facing noncooperation from local leadership he has diligently pursued necessary developmental projects for the district demonstrating focused effort and conducting thorough followups However his progress was hindered by opposition from within his own party ranks which has tainted the surrounding environment Denying him a ticket was unjust and I am determined to carry forward his workIf he had so much expertise and passion why was he denied a ticket The Shiv Sena UBT also did not field him and he has backed youYes the BJP has denied a ticket to a good candidate like him and they will regret this once I win About backing me Such a practice is unprecedented in politics It is a common theory propagated by everyone including journalists that a person leaves a party for the political ambition of getting a ticket for candidature He has shown the way and led by example that he quit for injustice and did not have any ambition He is backing me as a friend It is a case of a leader giving up his career for a humble political worker like me and we two friends will show the world how politics is done for the welfare of peopleYou will be contesting against all those for whom you have been a part of and had been campaigning in 2014 and 2019Yes but remember in all the earlier times there was a SenaBJP alliance in power It has been because of the Shiv Sena that the BJP has been winning here all the time This time they will face a humiliating defeat in their political stronghold of JalgaonWhat is your vision for the constituencyWork on irrigation needs to happen Farmers with banana and cotton yields are not happy Completion of irrigation projects has been pending and there is no employment here Unemployment in the district needs to be eradicated The textile park that was approved for Jalgaon moved to Vidarbha There was a Citrus Research Institute planned here which never came upSWOT analysisStrengthsHas the support of outgoing MP Unmesh Patil who has experience followers and knows the constituency wellWeaknessesA complete novice weak in communication skills not much active presence on social media and has been having a difficult time managing all partners of the Maha Vikas Aghadi locallyOpportunitiesA new face and has been popular with the youth The family has a strong political background and connections Has the categorical and complete support of Uddhav Thackeray and his Sena faction and is receiving help from Sena BhavanThreatHis opponent Smita Wagh is a loyal and veteran BJP leader and has support from the cadre She is taking Pawarrsquos nomination seriously and has left no stone unturned while campaigning by walking into interior villages