As the third phase of the general elections began across India, Maharashtra saw some of its most prosperous constituencies go to polls. These include Pune, Baramati, Kolhapur, Sangli and Aurangabad as well as Satara where the incumbent is from an erstwhile royal family!
Pune:
This is not only one of the most urbanised constituencies, it is also the second largest city in Maharashtra. Pune has over the years also evolved into quite a hub for the IT and auto sectors. It is in the top ten largest metropolitan economies in the country and has the six highest per capita income in the country.
Politically, Pune has switched between the INC and BJP. Though Anil Shirole of the BJP is the current MP, the party has fielded Girish Bapat as their candidate this time. He is pitted against Mohan Joshi of the Congress. The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) has fielded Anil Jadhav.
The caste quotient is significant in this city of the Peshwas who presided over a dark period in its history when people from “lower” castes were openly humiliated and discriminated against. As per the 2011 census data, the Scheduled Caste population stands at 11,80,703 or 12.5 per cent of the population and Scheduled Tribes stand at 3,48,876 or 3.7 per cent of the population. The Muslim population stands at 6,73,704 or 7.14 per cent of the population.
Baramati:
The traditional bastion of the Congress and in more recent years the NCP. The constituency was represented by Sharad Pawar from 1991 till 2009 and by his daughter Supriya Sule thereafter.
It is crorepati vs crorepati in this constituency. Sule has declared total assets worth over Rs 140 crores. BJP’s Kanchan Kul’s Rs 4 crores pale by comparison. Kul is wife of RSP MLA Rahul Kul and the BJP has left no stone unturned in campaigning for her with party chief Amit Shah addressing a rally in Baramati to urge people to vote for Kul. This will be significant given how Sule’s winning margin isn’t even a patch on Pawar’s winning margins. The VBA has fielded Navnath Padalkar from the Dhangar community who are traditionally engaged in shepherding. If the Dhangar vote gets split between NCP and VBA, it ultimately appears to benefit the BJP.
Baramati is a textile and dairy hub, and agriculture also plays a key role in the region’s economy. Cash crops like sugar cane and cotton are cultivated along with food crops like grapes and wheat. Sugar and grapes are also exported.
Kolhapur:
This constituency is another NCP stronghold. NCP’s Dhananjay Mahadik is the incumbent who is facing off against Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Mandalik. It was the same contest in 2014. Interestingly, over 7000 people voted NOTA then.
This time, the BSP has fielded DK Shrikant while the VBA candidate is Dr. Aruna Mohan Mali. According to the 2011 census data, SC population stands at 5,04,461 or 13 per cent of the population. The ST population stands at 30,206 or 0.8 per cent. With a population of 2,86,558, Muslims comprise over 7 per cent of the population.
The region is famous for its handcrafted leather footwear as well as other handicrafts including block printed textiles, pottery, wood carving and embroidery work. It has also emerged as a manufacturing hub with over 300 foundries and two MIDCs.
Sangli:
This traditional Congress bastion swung to the BJP in 2014. Located in what is called the sugar bowl of India, this is not only one of the most fertile regions of the country, it is also home to the Sagareshwar wildlife sanctuary that gives it its green cover. It is also a hub for turmeric production.
According to the 2011 census data the SC population stands at 3,53,093 or just over 12 per cent. The ST population stands at 18,333 or 0.6 per cent.
The incumbent is BJP’s Sanjay Patil who goes up against Gopichand Padalkar of the VBA.
Aurangabad:
A Shiv Sena bastion under Chandrakant Khaire since 1999, Aurangabad is located in the drought prone Marathwada region. However, it is fortunate enough to Godavari and Tapi river basins that ensure it is not as badly hit by water shortage as other areas in Marathwada. A major manufacturing hub, Aurangabad is home units and factories of brands such as Bajaj, Videocon, Hindalco, Ceat, Garware etc. It also has five MIDCs and is also a major tourism hub.
The incumbent Khaire faces the Congress’s Uttamsingh Pawar. While on one hand is Khaire’s communal “Khan vs Baan” rhetoric, on the other is AIMIM candidate Imtiaz Jameel, a former journalist, who has a huge following, not just among the constituency’s Muslim population, but also among other communities for his calm and dedicated approach to solving actual problems on the ground. The AIMIM has fielded candidates as a part of its alliance with Prakash Ambedkar under the VBA banner elsewhere, but Aurangabad is where they fielded Jameel due to his proven track record, excellent reputation and some people insist Jameel’s persistence. The last is why some feel that Owaisi has appeared reluctant to promote him adequately.
The SC population stands at 5,39,368 or 14.6 per cent. The STs at 1,43,366 account for 3.9 per cent of total population, according to the 2011 census data.
Satara:
Yet another NCP stronghold, Satara is one of the least urbanised districts with over 80 per cent of the people living in urban centers. The region is also in a desperate need for an overhaul in infrastructure, medical and educational facilities. But the electoral contest interestingly has been reduced to a battle between two personality cults.
The incumbent Udayanraje Bhosale hails from the erstwhile royal family of Bhosale and is the 13 holder of the title of “Chhatrapati”. Bhosale is a direct descendant of the fabled Maratha king. He is famous for a spate of public fights and reconciliation with his cousin Shivendraraje Bhosale. Udayanraje is famous for little else other that his recent habit of quoting lines of famous movies while flicking his collar.
His immediate opponent Narendra Patil of the Shiv Sena meanwhile has a famous moustache twirl. But given his more grounded beginnings as the son of Annasaheb Patil a leader of Mathadi Kamgars, a community engaging in lifting loads on their heads, Patil is seen as more down to earth than his royal competitor.
The SC population in Satara stands at 10.8 per cent or 3,23,236 and the ST population is 1 per cent or 29,635. The Muslim population stands at 1,46,970 or just over 4 per cent.