Kumbhare is confident but Ahmed keeps fingers crossed

NAGPUR: For Congress' Anees Ahmed, the main challenger to the sitting MLA of BJP from Central Nagpur Vikas Kumbhare, swimming is first love. Ahmed planned to take a plunge in the pool soon after the election day but ended up with a torn shoulder muscle that has hampered his movements.As he plans to stay in the city on the counting day nursing his injury, Ahmed told TOI he was keeping his fingers crossed. "There no point in praying now, can it change the votes," Ahmed said when asked if he was also invoking any divine intervention for election results. "Nothing can be predicted. It is going to be a tough fight. Once I had lost elections by mere six votes. There can be possibilities like that, let us see what happens," said Ahmed. He said has been spending the days after polling assessing the prospects on the basis is inputs by party workers."Ahmed said he injured his shoulder as he moved around the city during campaign. "It was an open jeep, whenever there was a jerk, my supporters standing behind would hold on to my shoulder for support which left a muscle torn," he said.BJP's Vikas Kumbhare, on the other hand, was confident of winning and he kept himself busy calling on voters to thank them. "I was very tired after but could not resist. On the first day, I went to Gandhibagh garden in the morning and thanked people for voting for me. After that, I had to attend a couple of funerals, where I could meet people too. I was at the Gandhisagar Lake the next day and again followed by two funerals. On Saturday, I went to the Khode Udyan near Nag river," he said. Unlike in 2009 when he was really anxious, this time Kumbhare said he was relaxed and confident of winning. Anees and Kumbhare are old rivals. The latter lost assembly polls to Anees in 1999. In 2009, Anees preferred a different constituency and Kumbhare won from Central. Now, both have come face to face again. Kamil Ansari of NCP the third major candidate conceded he did not hope to win. Muslim votes on which both he and Anees were banking on were divided and the turnout was low from this community, he said. Meanwhile, 27-year-old Sahil Shaikh, a roadside antique seller who claims to be the youngest candidate, said though he stood no chance but was tense. "I just contested for the sake of it. I took a couple of days' break from my work and am now back at the shop," he said.