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Latur gives Congress a rare boost after controversy over Ravindra Chavan’s Vilasrao Deshmukh remark

The BJP has been restricted to 22 seats in the Latur Municipal Corporation polls, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction has failed to open its account.

Congress flagCongress also flagged issues such as a shortage of fertilisers during the protest. (File Photo)

Latur has emerged as one of the very rare bright spots for the Congress, along with Chandrapur, where the party appears poised to take control of the municipal corporation Friday. The party’s performance in Latur, where it is leading in 47 of the corporation’s 70 seats under the leadership of MLA Amit Deshmukh, comes in the backdrop of a statement made by Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Ravindra Chavan.

The Congress and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) alliance has swept the Latur Municipal Corporation, comfortably crossing the majority mark to take control from the BJP. The BJP has been restricted to 22 seats, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction has failed to open its account.

In the previous municipal elections, the Congress had won 33 seats, while the BJP had bagged 36.

The result has been widely read as a political rebuttal to the controversial statement made by Ravindra Chavan during the campaign. Addressing party workers in Latur during the campaign, Chavan had declared that the memories of Vilasrao Deshmukh would be wiped out from the city.

His remark about Vilasrao Deshmukh struck a raw nerve in Latur, where the late leader’s legacy continues to shape political and emotional sentiment. “To be honest, seeing your enthusiasm today, I am 100 per cent sure that the memories of Vilasrao (Deshmukh) will be erased from this city, without a doubt,” Chavan had said.

Vilasrao Deshmukh, a two-time chief minister, remains deeply embedded in Latur’s political consciousness, which he represented.

The Congress had demanded an apology from Chavan, while Amit Deshmukh, MLA and son of the late leader, publicly expressed his anger with the controversy that came to dominate the local campaign narrative.

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With nearly 70 per cent voter turnout, the election witnessed unusually high public engagement.

Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports. Expertise  Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas: Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai. Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC). Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai). Trustworthiness & Credibility Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence. Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers). Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports. He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More

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