Dynasty Watch

The Hirey dynasty has controlled Dabhadi assembly constituency for almost half-a-century. Starting with freedom fighter Bhausaheb Hirey, ...

The Hirey dynasty has controlled Dabhadi assembly constituency for almost half-a-century. Starting with freedom fighter Bhausaheb Hirey, who was a minister of the Bombay Province in 1952 and a legislator in 1957. Two generations later, the dynasty continues to hold power though it8217;s now divided into two factions.

Bhausaheb Hirey, who had participated in the Quit India movement, was a part of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and was to be nominated by the Congress for the polls. However, he died in November 1961 and his son, Vyankatrao, was given the ticket. Vyankatrao stayed in power to become a minister after the 1972 assembly polls. The turning point came in 1978 when Vyankatrao8217;s cousin, Dr Baliram Hirey son of Wamanrao Hirey, who was the brother of Bhausaheb Hirey, was nominated by the Congress. Vyankatrao contested from the neighbouring Chandwad assembly constituency unsuccessfully. Dr Baliram went on the become a minister.

Consequently, in the 1980 polls, both cousins fought against each other inDabhadi, their home ground. Vyankatrao lost to Dr Baliram, who was the official Congress nominee. Subsequently, Vyankatrao died in a road accident. Vyankatrao8217;s widow, Pushpatai, was encouraged by Sharad Pawar to enter politics. She was nominated by the Congress S in 1985. Dr Baliram Hirey chose to field his wife, Indira, as a nominee of the Congress. Pushpatai won the polls not only in 1985 as a Congress S candidate but also in 1990 and 1995 as a candidate of the Congress. She continues to be a loyal supporter of Sharad Pawar.

Pushpatai8217;s son, Prashant, had meanwhile grown up and was nursing political aspirations. He wanted to be the official nominee of the Congress in 1995. However, Pawar denied him a ticket and nominated Pushpatai, who won. An annoyed Prashant broke away from the Congress to form his own Bhausaheb Hirey Sena. His party made its presence felt in Nashik district by winning 11 seats in the Malegaon panchayat samiti and seven seats in the Nashik zilla parishad. Prashant attempted tojoin the BJP but the local leaders of the party opposed his entry tooth and nail. He joined the Shiv Sena in October 1997 in a hope of getting a ministerial berth in the Shiv Sena-BJP government.

However, when the Sena was not able to fulfill his political ambitions, he left the party and joined the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar on the eve of the polls. He has been nominated from Dabhadi by the NCP. His wife, Smita, and his son, Apoorva who is a college student, are active in politics and canvass for him. In the current polls, Prashant faces his uncle, Dr Baliram Hirey, who has been nominated by the Congress. Dr Baliram8217;s son, Prasad, too is active in politics but is yet to contest a poll.