The Bhandara-Gondia seat in Vidarbha, India, is now a contest between the BJP and Congress. The seat, which was previously a BJP-NCP contest, has been contested since 1999. Praful Patel, leader of the NCP, represented the constituency as a Congress MP in 1991, 1996, and 1998. In 2014, Patel lost to Patole, who was then with the BJP. In 2019, BJP fielded Sunil Mendhe, who defeated NCP s Nana Panchbuddhe.
A BJP insider says alliance partners Shinde Sena and NCP (Ajit faction) will understand the pressure on the BJP to win maximum Lok Sabha seats and ensure a third term for PM Modi