In Maharashtra’s Kagal constituency, a tussle over reformer Shahu Maharaj’s progressive legacy

Five-time MLA Hasan Mushrif of NCP is up against NCP (SP)’s Samarjitsinh Ghatge, a member of the erstwhile royal family.

NCP-SP candidate Samarjeetsinh Ghatge during his election campaign in Kagal assembly constituency in Kolhapur. (Express Photo by Pavan Khengre)

In a tough Assembly poll contest, the Kagal constituency, home to Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj’s birthplace, will witness a battle to pick the real follower of the Maratha king’s reformist ideology. Five-time MLA Hasan Mushrif of the NCP is up against the NCP (SP)’s Samarjitsinh Ghatge, a member of the erstwhile royal family.

“Kagal is the birthplace of Shahu Maharaj, who laid the foundation of a progressive ideology in the state. Mushrif has represented the constituency for many years but has never publicly acknowledged that his election for over two decades in this Hindu-dominated constituency is due to the progressive ideology sown by Shahu Maharaj,” said Ghatge.

The NCP (SP) candidate added, “The fake progressive facade of Mushrif was exposed on the day when he left his mentor Sharad Pawar.”
Mushrif decided to side with the Ajit Pawar faction after the NCP split, while Ghatge grabbed the opportunity to fulfil his political ambitions and left the BJP for the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). Ajit Pawar’s NCP is part of the ruling coalition led by the BJP and the Shiv Sena.

“Pawar has always stuck to the progressive ideology of Shahu Maharaj, Babasaheb Ambedkar and Jyotiba Phule. It is this ideology that is required to be promoted in the state and it brought me to the NCP (SP),” said Ghatge.

Ghatge’s father was a Congress legislator. After his demise, no one from his family had been active in state politics. “I am aware that the voters in Kagal are frustrated and desperately seeking a change in leadership. They look up to us with the expectation that we will bring change to the constituency through education and healthcare facilities,” the NCP (SP) leader said.

For his part, Mushrif said he continues to have a mass following in the constituency. “The kind of response I am receiving in rallies from women and the farmer community is amazing and a reflection of good work done by the Mahayuti government,” he said, adding that the election in Kagal is between a royal family candidate and the common man.

“The way NCP (SP) leaders had public meetings in Kagal against me indicates that they are targeting a leader of the minority community,” he said earlier.

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Mushrif said that Ghatge had done injustice to the backward community despite claiming to be following a progressive ideology.

“I am seeking votes on development issues and not on the basis of caste and religion. I want the voters to recognise the work done by me,” added the NCP candidate in the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More

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