Maharashtra Assembly Polls 2024: A Family Affair as Dynastic Politics Takes Center Stage
The upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, set to take place on November 20, 2024, are set to witness an intriguing and unusual political scenario—members of prominent political families are pitted against each other in several constituencies. Amid the ongoing debate over dynastic politics, these elections are showcasing how family ties continue to shape the political landscape of the state.
In an election season where the opposition parties frequently accuse rivals of fostering dynastic politics, Maharashtra’s political battlefield has turned into a stage for family rivalries, with siblings, cousins, and even husbands and wives squaring off for the same seats. Some constituencies are seeing family members battle it out, while others are witnessing intra-family competition that has heightened the stakes of these high-profile contests.
The Battle of Pawars: A Clash Between Nephew and Uncle
One of the most talked-about contests is in the Baramati constituency, a traditional stronghold of the Pawar family. In this political duel, Yugendra Pawar, a debutant and candidate of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), will face off against his uncle, Ajit Pawar, who is contesting from the same seat as the Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader. This clash marks a significant chapter in Baramati’s political history, which has already seen a family contest during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, was defeated by Supriya Sule, his cousin and the sitting MP from Baramati.
Ajit Pawar, who has been a dominant force in Baramati, having won the seat seven times and once holding the Baramati parliamentary seat, will face a fierce challenge from his nephew. The family feud has captured the attention of both local voters and the wider political community.
Pawar Family Rivalries Continue Across Constituencies
The influence of the Pawar family is not confined to Baramati alone. In Karjat-Jamkhed, Rohit Pawar, another nephew of Ajit Pawar and grand-nephew of Sharad Pawar, is contesting on the NCP (SP) ticket against BJP’s Ram Shinde. This seat has become another battleground for the Pawar family’s influence in Maharashtra politics.
Intra-Family Contests: A Husband-Wife Battle in Kannad
The Kannad constituency in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will see a dramatic showdown between a husband and wife. Harshwardhan Jadhav, an independent candidate, is pitted against his estranged wife Sanjana Jadhav, who is contesting on a Shiv Sena ticket. Sanjana Jadhav, the daughter of BJP leader and former Union Minister Raosaheb Danve, will be battling her former spouse in a contest that has added personal stakes to the political race.
Meanwhile, Sanjana’s brother, Santosh Danve, is also in the fray, contesting from Bhokardan in Jalna as a BJP candidate, adding another layer of family rivalry to this electoral cycle.
Congress Legacy: The Deshmukh Dynasty
The Deshmukh family, one of the most recognized political families in Maharashtra, is also a key player in the 2024 elections. Amit Deshmukh and Dhiraj Deshmukh, sons of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, are contesting from the Latur City and Latur Rural constituencies, respectively. Their candidacies underline the continued influence of the Deshmukh family in Maharashtra politics, where the legacy of their father remains a dominant factor in the region’s political fabric.
Rane Family: Shiv Sena vs. BJP
The Rane family is another political legacy that continues to influence the election results. Nitesh Rane and Nilesh Rane, the sons of BJP MP and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane, are both contesting from different constituencies. Nitesh is running for Shiv Sena from Kudal, while Nilesh is contesting for the BJP from Kankavli. This split between Shiv Sena and BJP further underscores the complex and competitive nature of family-driven politics in the state.
Thackeray Cousins and More Political Dynasties
In Mumbai, the Thackeray cousins are also involved in separate contests, continuing the family’s long-standing political influence. Aaditya Thackeray, the sitting MLA from Worli, will be contesting once again from his constituency, while his maternal cousin Varun Sardesai will contest from Bandra East on a Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket. Meanwhile, Amit Thackeray, the son of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) head Raj Thackeray, is also contesting from Mahim, adding another layer to the family’s political ambitions in Mumbai.
Other Notable Family Rivalries
Other prominent family rivalries include Ganesh Naik, a former Maharashtra Minister, who is contesting from Airoli as a BJP candidate, while his son Sandeep Naik is contesting from the neighbouring Belapur constituency as an NCP (SP) candidate. Similarly, Vijaykumar Gavit, a Maharashtra minister, is facing off against his daughter Heena Gavit, a former MP, who is contesting as an independent candidate from Akkalkuwa.
In the Islampur constituency, Jayant Patil, the NCP (SP) state chief, is facing off against his nephew Prajakt Tanpure, a former Maharashtra minister, who is contesting from Rahuri on the same party’s ticket.
Additionally, Chhagan Bhujbal, a senior NCP leader, is running from Yevala, while his nephew Sameer Bhujbal is contesting as an independent candidate from Nandgaon.
