Yavatmal: Reigning Shiv Sena MP Bhavana Gawali faces a stiff challenge in Yavatmal-Washim because of BJP rebel Parshuram Aade, who had been expecting the party to give him a ticket, but returned disappointed after a saffron alliance for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls was sealed. This has made the contest a three-way fight, with Congress candidate Manikrao Thakre aiming for grabbing the advantage that the splitting of saffron votes will have on offer for him.

Four-term MP and second generation Sena leader, Gawali is the only female Parliamentarian from Vidarbha. She was given the segment after delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies in which six Assembly seats from Yavatmal and Washim districts were clubbed together to make a new constituency. Previously, the BJP would contest Yavatmal and the Sena would get Washim, where Gawali had won twice. But since the two parties were on the verge of contesting the Lok Sabha polls separately, the BJP had asked Aade, ex-deputy commissioner of dairy development, to prepare himself for the candidature. Aade's hopes crashed when Gawali's NDA candidature was announced.