How cardiologist Dr Babasaheb Dehmukh won back Sangola

The gaunt figure of Ganpatrao was synonymous with Marxist Leninist PWPI which once had over 20 MLAs in the State Assembly. In 2019, Shahajibapu Patil of the then-undivided Sena won the seat defeating Babasaheb’s brother Aniket by a narrow margin. While Shahajibapu went on to join the Sena’s Eknath Shinde faction, Babasaheb said he came back to Sangole to ensure his grandfather’s legacy carries on. “I did not have to do much – the spade work was all done by him. All I had to do was to assure people we will continue his work,” he said.

Thus, by allowing the smooth functioning of cooperative institutions like the spinning mills and cooperative dairy, Babasaheb ensured that elections to the bodies were carried out unanimously.

“Only for the women’s spinning mill we held an election which PWP won 25-0,” he said.

When it came to contesting the Assembly seat, the mantle fell on him to carry the party’s red flag. “Initally we wanted to have an electoral understanding with MVA, but that did not materialise and Sena (UBT) gave the ticket to Dipak Salunkhe, a former NCP (undivided) MLA,” he said.

Ganapatrao, whose politics transcended party lines, was fondly called Abasaheb in the area. While being a member of PWP, he was known to have supported Sharad Pawar when the latter stood for Madha Lok Sabha seat. He said it was his grandfather’s hard work that helped him win elections against both Mahayuti and MVA.

“My only capital was the connection I had built with people in the last 3–5 years. I was there when they needed me – and they stood by me like a rock. If MVA had not placed a candidate to contest, I would have won by a much larger margin,” he said. The politics of the Left, with its emphasis on issues of farmers, workers and the common man, the cardiologist said, was the need of the hour as the economic divide continues to widen. “I will be the voice of the people in the House and across the state,” he said.