Despite odds, a consolation

Chavan trounces seven-time Cong MLA Vilas Patil-Undalkar, who fought as Independent.

What was widely believed to be a close contest in Karad South constituency ended in a comfortable victory for former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan who was fighting his first assembly election as he trounced seven-time sitting MLA Vilas Patil-Undalkar by over 14,000 votes. Chavan in fact stood tall in Western Maharashtra as Congress bigwigs such as Harshvardhan Patil and Satej Patil, who were considered sure-short winners, were decimated on poll turf.

Minutes after his victory was announced, Chavan wasted no time in debunking the Modi wave. “Modi asked for a simple majority in Maharashtra. BJP could not even get near the simple majority… Modi has been clearly rejected by the people of Maharashtra,” he said.

Chavan, however, accepted responsibility for the Congress’s poor performance. “I accept the responsibility for the defeat of my party and will work for the betterment of the Congress,” he said.

He sounded surprised by his victory margin. “I was in the fray after a long time and it took a lot of effort to reconnect with the masses. In the end, it was a comfortable victory,” he said.

Chavan won around 74,000 votes while Undalkar, a Congress rebel, finished second with 59,000 votes. Atul Bhosale of the BJP came third with around 58,000 votes.

Undalkar said he was undone by ‘urban voting’. “In Karad city area, I could get only 6,000 votes whereas Chavan got close to 50,000 votes,” he said. Undalkar is credited with pushing the development of rural areas — water tanks, better roads and toilet facilities.

Chavan is fondly addressed as ‘Baba’, both by supporters and rivals, in Karad. Many said they voted for him as he was the “Nishkalank and Swachh Manoos” (Mr Clean).

Story continues below this ad

Chavan had the support of a wide spectrum of voters, including the Muslims. “The Muslim community in Karad has been Congress supporters for long. We have nearly 65,000 votes and more than 70 per cent had voted,” said Congress leader Shakil Kotwal.

Chavan’s wife, Satvasheela Chavan, who is credited with holding the fort in Karad as her husband campaigned for other Congress candidates, said, “I knew he would win… Everyone knows he is Mr Clean and there was no reason why they wouldn’t vote for him.”

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More