Alliance that backed 17 disadvantaged candidates in 2019 now with Sena UBT
Durbal Ghatak Aghadi -- roughly translating to an alliance of weaker sections -- is a social group that works with disadvantaged people, including widows, devdasis, househelps and disabled people.
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Vilas Rupwate-led Durbal Ghatak Aghadi backed candidates in 17 of the 48 seats across the states in 2019. This year, his organisation is campaigning for Shiv Sena (UBT) after joining them in 2022 along with nine lakh supporters from various disadvantaged sections. LinkedIn/Vilas RupwateDuring the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, some of the poorest and disadvantaged candidates, from transpersons to the visually impaired, who contested from Mumbai city had one thing in common: they were funded by the ‘Durbal Ghatak Aghadi‘– roughly translating to an alliance of weaker sections — a social group that works with disadvantaged people, including widows, devdasis, househelps and disabled people.
This time around, however, Vilas Rupwate-led Durbal Ghatak Aghadi, who backed candidates in 17 of the 48 seats across the states, is campaigning for Shiv Sena (UBT) after joining them in 2022 along with nine lakh supporters from various disadvantaged sections.
Talking to The Indian Express, Rupwate said, “Looking at the work that Uddhav Thackeray did during Covid-19 and how his own party people deserted him for money, we joined the Sena UBT two years back and are campaigning for them across the state. I just met Rajabhau Waje, Sena UBT candidate from Nashik and now I am on my way to Shirdi to meet their candidate there from where I will travel to Aurangabad.”
When asked about the fate of the 17 disadvantaged candidates he supported last time, Rupwate said, “Before taking the decision of joining Shiv Sena (UBT), I had a meeting with everyone. I told them that while they will not be able to contest this time, we have to ensure we campaign against the autocratic BJP government and save the Constitution, which is ourpriority. All of them agreed for the same. Since then, I have been on the campaign trail asking people to vote for mashal (Sena UBT symbol).”
During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, of the eight candidates at the bottom rung, Sneha (Sagar) Kale (with total assets worth Rs 1,500), Jatin Harne (total assets worth Rs 2,082), both of whom identify as transgenders, and Rajesh Dayal (total assets Rs 5,000), who is visually impaired, were affiliated to the Durbal Ghatak Aghadi.
In terms of votes, the highest votes were received by Ramesh Nivruti Kamble, who polled 2,116 votes contesting from Latur, while Kishore Rokade won 1,704 votes contesting from Shirdi.
Within the city, Harne from Mumbai North East and Kale from Mumbai North Central won 1,573 votes and 759 votes, respectively, while Dayal won 449 votes contesting from Mumbai south constituency.
Rupwate had earlier founded the Maharashtra Devdasi and Niradhar Mahila Sangathana under Latatai Sakat — after whom an award is conferred by the Maharashtra government — who worked for disadvantaged sections of the society. Sakat passed away in 2012 after which Rupwate said he actively started working with the organisation and later joined the Congress party.
However, he quit the party in 2016. When asked why he decided to back candidates in Lok Sabha last year, he said, “On realising that no major political party wants to do anything with the disadvantaged sections of society, we decided to contest elections and formed the Durbal Ghatak Aghadi in 2019.”
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