In Kolhapur, Shahu Maharaj steps out of royal palace to ‘save democracy from dictatorship, protect Constitution’

Sporting a ’tilak’ on his forehead and attired in a white kurta pyjama, Maharaj on Saturday, as he has done for the past 20 days, sets off on his campaign trail around 9.30 am in a convoy of vehicles. While the Congress fields him as an MVA candidate, the Shiv Sena (Shinde), part of the Mahayuti alliance, has renominated sitting MP Mandalik. Shahu Maharaj’s son, Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, who has also gone all out to campaign for his father, has given no importance to Mandlik’s remarks.

More than an hour later, Maharaj’s convoy arrives in the Madilge village of the Budhargad taluka. Surrounded by greenfields, the road to the venue of his rally is so narrow that only one vehicle can pass through it at one time. As Maharaj steps out of his car, the crowd, including party workers and villagers, surges ahead to welcome him. Many of them are surprised that the “Maharaj” is visiting him.

The women in the village give him a traditional welcome. ”This is my first time seeing him so closely,” says an elderly villager with excitement writ large on her face.

Maharaj then ascends the dias packed with party leaders. One after another, they aggressively speak against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When his turn comes at last, Maharaj speaks in a soft tone, haltingly with measured words. He doesn’t name the BJP or Modi but clarifies that attempts are being made to divide the country’s people.

“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj took everyone along. He supported people from different backgrounds and united them. Today’s rulers are on a different path. They seem to have one motto — to bring dictatorship to the country. Our democracy is being threatened,” says the Congress candidate.

As the campaign moves out of the village, a party worker pleads with Maharaj to visit his home. He doesn’t mind. The party worker’s family is delighted to welcome him. Maharaj makes himself comfortable with the family. After ‘chai pani’ and munching some ‘kaaju,” the convoy sets off again. Asked about the craze among the people for him, he says, ”They are delighted by my presence, and so am I.”

As his convoy speeds off and arrives in Pushpanagar around 1 pm, the villagers, despite the temperature hovering around 39 degrees Celsius, are excited to find him amongst them and raise the decibel levels with slogans. The candidate visits the temple in the vicinity of the rally venue.

Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawr) leaders go all out attack against the BJP and Modi. When his turn comes, Maharaj laments how civic elections are not even being held. ”They (Modi government) are not holding even civic elections. In future, they will not even hold Assembly elections. And then they will see there is no need for general elections. Our democracy is being thwarted. It seems we are heading towards dictatorship,” he says.

“They want more than 400 seats.. for what? Do they want to replace the Constitution? Their intentions are not good,” he adds.

In his speech, he also mentions Sonam Maskar, a rifle shooter who has made the village proud with her achievements. He then felicitates her and extends his best wishes for her future.

As his speech ends and he heads towards his vehicle, Maharaj pauses to respond to a question: Why does his campaigning revolve around words like ‘democracy d ”Constitution? Maharaj responds, ”Of course, I have stepped out to save our democracy and our Constitution. We can’t allow our democracy to be done away with and can’t allow our Constitution drafted with painstaking effort by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar to be changed at the whims and fancies of some people.”

Nitin Jadhav, a close associate, says Maharaj had no plan to contest elections. However, three months before the elections, he constantly raised the issue of democracy and the Constitution being threatened by the current rulers. ”As he was repeatedly raising his concerns over democracy being done away with dictatorship taking over the country, a party leader urged him to take the lead by fighting elections… From here, it all started, and ultimately, Congress leaders like Satej Patil and others prodded him to join the election ring,” says Jadhav.

As his convoy moves out of Pushpanagar, it comes to a screeching halt at a Dalit hamlet nearby. Women, children and the elderly force Shahu Maharaj to get down from his vehicle and step into their village. Maharaj happily joins them for a few photographs as they raise slogans in his favour and traditionally welcome him.

Bhairavnath Kamble, a local farmer, demands a full loan waiver for farmers. ”We have some 500 farmers in our area and nearby villagers who are neck-deep in debt. We want Maharaj to take up our cause after becoming an MP,” he says.

It is well past 2 pm. The convoy speeds towards the historic town of Gargoti. After leaders of the MVA hold forth, Maharaj, in his address, reminds the villagers of Gargoti of their historic tradition. ”It was in 1844, the villagers of Gargoti had thwarted the Britishers… Similarly, we had to push back those who are threatening to decimate our democracy and rule through dictatorship… We have to save our democracy and protect our Constitution. You need to join hands with me in this Herculean task,” he urges.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Maharaj says, ”The Congress has followed the ideas of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj… Our democracy is of the people, by the people and for the people. We have to protect it at any cost. We should not allow polarisation to take place.”

When asked why he was not using Prime Minister Modi’s name while attacking him, Maharaj says, ”Who is trying to divide the people? I need not say. Everyone knows.”

The campaign trail then heads to a party leader’s home a little distance away from Gargoti. When asked whether it was his first such experience, Maharaj says, ”I interact with people… But this is my first close interaction, visiting homes and villages and hearing the people’s voices and grievances upfront.”

“I campaign for 12-13 hours a day. It has been 20 days now. By God’s grace, I have no health issues. And I am enjoying every minute being surrounded by people and listening to them,” he says as he takes a break for an afternoon meal.