11 seats in Maharashtra sugar belt, drought-prone areas go to polls in phase 3

Around 2.09 crore people will vote on May 7, which includes 1.07 crore men, 1.02 crore women and 929 transgenders. The 11 constituencies have 23,036 polling centres of which 114 are critical. The Satara constituency in western Maharashtra at 40 has the highest number of critical polling centres, while Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg have zero such centres. For the voting, as many as 46,491 ballot units; 23,036 control units and 23,036 VVPAT machines will be put in use.

The phase is particularly of vital importance for NCP chief Ajit Pawar and his estranged uncle NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar as both will face-off in an electoral battle for the first time in their political careers. Of four seats contested by NCP, three—Baramati, Raigad and Dharashiv— will go to polls in this phase, and of 10 NCP(SP) seats, three— Baramati, Madha, Satara in western Maharashtra—will go to polls in this phase.

The third phase will feature one of the most high-profile contests in this general election at Baramati where Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar will take on incumbent Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar. For this crucial battle, Ajit Pawar stationed himself in Baramati for the entire period of the phase, personally campaigning in every LS Assembly constituency. This most keenly fought battle will decide the fate of Ajit Pawar after his rebellion against uncle Sharad Pawar.

For the ruling alliance, BJP will contest a maximum six seats while Eknath Shinde led Sena will contest two seats.

In the Opposition, Congress will contest three seats while Uddhav Thackeray led Sena will contest five.

This phase had Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold rallies for NDA candidates in Kolhapur, Satara, Solapur, Pune, Dharashiv, Latur, Baramati, Madha and Hatkanangle. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath also campaigned for BJP in Sangli, Kolhapur and Solapur.

In the Opposition, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi held rallies in Pune and Latur respectively. But the star campaigner for the Opposition turned out to be Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Sena-UBT who held rallies in each and every one of 11 constituencies for MVA candidates.

Political realignments in western Maharashtra’s Madha and Solapur constituency initiated by NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar led to the panic in BJP camp and consequently a change in its strategy. Western Maharashtra’s Baramati, Madha, Solapur, Satara, Kolhapur, Hatkanangle, Sangli constituencies fall in the state’s sugar belt where Pawar enjoys reasonable influence.

THE BATTLEFIELDS

Raigad

Sunil Tatkare (NCP) vs Anant Geete (SS-UBT)

The incumbent LS MP and ruling NCP state president Sunil Tatkare is to fight former union minister and Sena UBT’s Anant Geete. Despite being from the ruling side and heading the state unit of the party, Tatkare has not been able to step foot outside his constituency which has been a Sena stronghold. Post the Sena split, even though leaders joined hands with CM Eknath Shinde, most of the cadre is said to be with Geete.

Baramati

Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) vs Sunetra Pawar (NCP)

In one of the nation’s most high-profile contests, Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra is taking on incumbent LS MP and Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule. It is the first instance when Pawar family members are pitted against each other. The real battle, it is said, is being played out between Ajit Pawar and his estranged uncle Sharad Pawar.

Dharashiv

Omraje Nimbalkar (SS-UBT) vs Archana Patil (NCP)

In this Sena stronghold, incumbent Nimbalkar is up against sister in law Archana Patil. Despite the rebellion led by CM Eknath Shinde, Nimbalkar had chosen to stay with Thackeray which earned him much popularity in the region. Thackeray held one of the biggest public rallies in Marathwada for Nimbalkar. Patil is a newcomer in politics and is wife of BJP MLA Rana Jagjitsinh.

Latur (SC)

Sudhakar Shrungare (BJP) vs Dr Shivaji Kalge (Cong)

Incumbent BJP LS MP Sudhakar Shrungare is taking on a newcomer from Congress, Dr Shivaji Kalge, a well-known doctor in Latur. Shrungare’s battle has become tougher with the entire family of former CM, the late Vilasrao Deshmukh, led by his MLA son Amit, campaigning for Kalge and Marathas consolidating against BJP.

Solapur (SC)

Praniti Shinde (Cong) vs Ram Satpute (BJP)

In one of the toughest battles in Western Maharashtra, MLA Praniti Shinde is taking on BJP MLA Ram Satpute. While Satpute claims that his humble background and PM Narendra Modi’s charisma will grant him victory, Shinde has the backing of her CM father Sushil Kumar Shinde. With VBA and MIM not contesting, the battle has become one-on-one.

Madha

Ranjit Naik Nimbalkar (BJP) vs Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil (NCP-SP)

The incumbent BJP MP saw an easy victory in Madha at the start of the election, but veteran politician Sharad Pawar’s political maneuvering gave an interesting turn to the battle when the influential Mohite-Patil family from Solapur as well as the royal Nimbalkar family from Satara switched sides from BJP to NCP (SP). The move will likely impact Madha and Solapur seats.

Sangli

Sanjaykaka Patil (BJP) vs Chandrahar Patil (SS-UBT) vs Vishal Patil (Ind)

Sangli has been a point of conflict for the Opposition MVA as Sena UBT refused to let go of this constituency despite a strong protest from Congress. While BJP’s incumbent MP claims he will win, Sena-UBT has fielded former wrestler Chandrahar Patil. Miffed with the choice, former CM Vasantdada Patil’s grandson Vishal has rebelled against Congress and will contest as an independent. The BJP hopes to benefit from this.

Satara

Udayanraje Bhosle (BJP) Vs Shashikant Shinde (NCP-SP)

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Udayanraje Bhosle hopes to recreate the victory parade of 2019, but five years ago he had won as an united NCP candidate. A stronghold of NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, the opposition has fielded MLC Shashikant Shinde to take on Bhosle, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Ratnagiri -Sindhudurg

Vinayak Raut (SS-UBT) vs Narayan Rane (BJP)

The seat is a bone of contention for the ruling alliance with BJP’s Union minister Narayan Rane having the last laugh. Rane will take on incumbent MP Vinayak Raut of Sena-UBT from this constituency known as Sena’s stronghold. For Rane—a bitter critic of Uddhav Thackeray—a victory is a must as he has lost previous two electoral battles.

Kolhapur

Sanjay Mandlik (Shinde-Sena) vs Shahu Maharaj Chhatrapati (Cong)

For the first time, Shahu Maharaj Chhatrapati, descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, will be entering the electoral fray to take on Sena’s incumbent Sanjay Mandlik. This is also the first time in more than two decades that Congress will be contesting this seat.

Hatkanangle

Dhairyasheel Mane (Shinde-Sena) Vs Raju Shetti (SWS) vs Satyajeet Patil (Sena-UBT)

This bitterly fought election is more about the battle between farmers and sugar mill owners. Incumbent Dhairyasheel Mane is taking on farmer leader Raju Shetti and MVA’s Satyajeet Patil in a triangular fight.