Vibes Of Vidarbha, Dispatch 3 — Exploring The Strides Made And Hurdles That Remain In Nagpur

Nagpur’s Pulse: More Than Oranges

In Nagpur, the bustling regional capital, often associated with its famed oranges, I found a city that’s rapidly modernising, with clean streets, the metro, public parks, organised infrastructure, and amenities envied by many other Indian cities. 

It is only appropriate that my trip to Vidarbha begins at the magnificent Ganesh Tekdi temple in Nagpur. It is clean, well organised, and looks more beautiful in the evening. The area was abuzz with Diwali shoppers. In spite of the temple's proximity to the railway station, the whole area was refreshingly decongested, something other cities would do well to emulate. Indian tier-2 cities continue to impress.

Being the hometown of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) influence in the area remains strong. They have taken very good care of their constituencies. 

It is not an exaggeration to say that Gadkari is an emotion in Nagpur. I speak with Aditi, a local entrepreneur, who has returned from India after living in the United States (US) for a decade. She passionately discussed the transforming urban spaces in Nagpur. She runs an Instagram page on the highlights of returning to India. Aditi’s admiration underscored how Gadkari’s projects have reshaped the city, fostering a sense of pride in its residents.

Butibori and Hingna are industrial suburbs that serve as hubs for auto and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Mahindra & Mahindra has a huge manufacturing plant. Polycab and Ultratech Cement are among the top industrial houses in the area. NTPC runs two large thermal power plants here. A super thermal power plant at Mauda is getting operational.

The Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) and the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, which holds a lot of promise, are yet to take off as expected. 

Despite the city’s infrastructure strengths, unemployment remains a nagging issue. Many young graduates, unable to secure jobs in their fields, end up idling away their time or taking up unskilled work. Drugs and alcoholism have increased due to unemployment. Free rations and YouTube serve as demotivators as well.

Local youth, Ashish and Shubham, both college-educated, pointed out Nagpur’s industrial limitations, explaining that while some industries are present, the city lacks the industrial clout of other regions. They have taken to driving cabs. 

An interesting aspect of Nagpur’s history is its Sindhi population, who have settled here post-partition, and an increasing Muslim demographic. Interestingly, the Maratha agitation — a significant issue in other parts of Maharashtra — doesn’t resonate deeply here. Instead, Nagpur appears to have its own unique demographic and cultural balance.

There is a sizable Scheduled Caste (SC) community in Nagpur that is politically active. After all, it is at the Deekshabhumi in this city that Dr B R Ambedkar and his followers converted en masse to Buddhism.

The Shiv Sena(s) are not  big political forces in Vidarbha, as they are in the Konkan region. Rahul Gandhi’s "Bharat Jodo Yatra" had passed through Nagpur but did not make a substantial effect in the city per se, where it has earned a moniker of being a "Muslim party."

The headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is also in Nagpur. The BJP is expected to retain its hold in urban pockets, buoyed by welfare schemes, infrastructure development, and the presence of local heroes.

With the rumours of a constitutional change that circulated during the Lok Sabha election having now lost momentum, the RSS has hit the ground running with the objective of increasing the polling percentage in all the 12 assembly constituencies in the vicinity of Nagpur.

Manegaon Tek, Nagpur District — Agri Woes Abound

Manegaon Tek is on National Highway (NH) 44, which runs from Kanniyakumari to Kashmir, one of India's most crucial arterial roads and logistics corridors. It is near the Pench National Park at the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border.

I met Muhammad Hafeez, a local dhaba owner. He shared insights on the unique socio-political environment of this border region. Hafeez was grateful for the government’s cash transfer programmes, which have provided stability for his family. Being close to Pench National Park brings in tourists. The local economy benefits from the highway, with auto repair shops, dhabas, and some tourist facilities and hotels.

In terms of the economy, Hafeez said that construction workers travel to Nagpur as daily or weekly labourers. Due to poor irrigation facilities, farmers here grow rice mainly for personal consumption and leave the land fallow for the rest of the year.

A significant issue here is wildlife attacks on humans. In the last four months alone, around 15 people have been attacked by tigers.

The area, with its significant tribal and Muslim populations, reveals an interesting demographic pattern. Is the predominance of Muslims in Tribal dominated areas of the country — Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand — all simple coincidences?

This area falls under the Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency, which is an SC-reserved constituency. Shyamkumar Barve from the Congress is the new Member of Parliament (MP).

The constituency also comes under the Ramtek Assembly constituency, where Ashish Jaiswal, an independent candidate, is the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). Jaiswal served as a Shiv Sena MLA from 1999 to 2014. Mallikarjun Reddy of the BJP was the MLA from 2014 to 2019 but has since left the party. The Gondwana Mukti Sena and the Gondwana Ganatantra Party (GGP), both tribal parties, hold significant sway in this constituency. Harish Uike of the GGP is another prominent figure in local politics. 

The Mahayuti has managed to poach Jaiswal. As a Shiv Sena candidate, he is facing off against Vishal Barbate of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). Interestingly, Rajendra Malik, a former minister in the Prithviraj Chauhan government, is contesting as an independent candidate. He was previously an MLA from the neighbouring Umred constituency. Given these dynamics, Jaiswal appears to have a distinct advantage.

Takeaways

The youth of Maharashtra, as represented by the voices I encountered, embody a mix of disillusionment and quiet determination. They may lack faith in the revolving door of a political establishment of the state, but they retain a deep-rooted hope for a better future. Their aspirations are tempered by the reality of limited options but not extinguished by it.

In the next part, we will hear from the voices of the easternmost and perhaps the least-discussed of Maharashtra's districts — Gondia.

Earlier dispatches in the 'Vibes of Vidarbha' series:

A Primer On The Region That Could Swing The Maharashtra Election

Regional Dynamics, Key Players, And The Battle For Political Power