The Ramtek seat had fallen vacant following the resignation of Ashok Gujar, an independent who fought the last Lok Sabha polls from Ramtek as Shiv Sena nominee and lost.

Although blistering heat has kept the campaign on a low key, a visit to the constituency today shed light on two factors. One: the Shiv Sena nominee, Ashish Jaiswal - initially undermined - is now posing a formidable challenge to Anandrao Deshmukh of Congress and two: a surprise candidate, who does not belong to any party - Arun Akare, chairman of Parmatma Eksevak Sahakari Bank Limited - is very much in the flay. Although observers have held that Deshmukh enjoys an edge it would not be a cakewalk for him. Deshmukh, who held the seat once and was defeated by Ashok Gujar, then a Congress rebel in 1995 stateelections will have a tough time if Independent candidate Akare improves his position.

The Congress is divided in the area as partymen, former Maharashtra minister, Madhukar Kimmatkar, was denied a ticket. Kimmatkar, who has represented the constituency twice, has also been in Legislative council for six years. According Congress sources, Kimmatkar and his followers are not campaigning for Deshmukh.

However, Deshmukh claimed there was no rift in the party. "Initially there was an unrest among the rank and file, but it was sorted out," he said, claiming Kimmatkar was helping him. Deshmukh was supported by Shriram Ashtankar, a senior party functionary of Ramtek, who filed the nomination and subsequently withdrew in favour of Deshmukh.

According to the Congress candidate, there is a pro-Congress wave due to the failure of Sena-BJP government, particularly in solving the farmers issues. "We are exposing the shortfall of the coalition government, particularly in the farmers suicide case, in our meetings", hepointed out.

Radheshyam Hatwar, a Sena candidate campaign chief, retorted, "How can they blame us for natural calamities?" Hatwar said the party activists are happy over the nomination of Ashish Jaiswal, a young practicing lawyer and also a sitting ZP member. On the other hand, some pointed out that Jaiswal's selection by the Sena antagonised Gujar who had recently joined the party and also the BJP which claimed the seat in a poll adjustment.

Shripad Bhalerao, Shive Sena taluka chief clarified that the party initially asked Gujar to contest. As he was not interested, the ticket was given to Jaiswal. "The question of Gujar's unhappiness does not arise. It is a propaganda by Congress to demoralise our rank and file," he alleged.

Initially, the discontentment among the BJP and Shiv Sena was discernible. It was Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray who tried to pacify the dispute and dispatched senior leader, Kanhaiyyalal Gidwani to Nagpur as party observer. Gidwani promptly held meetings with the guardianminister Nitin Gadkari, Gujar, Sena leaders Prakash Jadhav and Sanjay Nirupam and sorted out the differences.

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