After Baramati, political rivalry between two families to play out in Dharashiv

The politics in Dharashiv has never played out easily. Sitting MP Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar (also known as Omraje) is one of the few who did not desert Uddhav Thackeray when Eknath Shinde walked away with both the party and the traditional bow and arrow symbol of Shiv Sena.

Thackeray has once again nominated Nimbalkar from Dharashiv for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. During 2019, Nimbalkar had defeated Ranajagjitsinh Patil from the then undivided NCP.

Following Ranjagjitsinh’s defeat in 2019, he and his father Padmasinh Bajirao Patil jumped over to the BJP. RanaJagjitsinh is a sitting MLA from Tuljapur. As the seat has gone to Ajit Pawar-led NCP, Archana his wife will be contesting on the NCP’ symbol – just like her husband did in 2019 ­– and will lock horns with Nimbalkar from the Shiv Sena (UBT).

The twist in the tale is that the Patils of Dharashiv are closely related to the Pawars of Baramati—the common link being Sunetra Pawar who is the sister of Padmasinh Bajirao Patil, who is Ranajagjitsinh Patil’s father and is also a former Home Minister.

Located along the dry Balaghat ranges, politics in Dharashiv has never been peaceful. Both the Nimbalkars and Patils are related to each other as Omprakash’s father Pavanraje and Padmasinh were cousins. However, the political rivalry between them peaked over the control of the cooperative bodies in the district and Padmasinh was accused of being complicit in the murder of Pavanraje, for which he has also served in jail. The political rivalry between the families have continued and would play out even in this election season.