Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018: Infighting-hit Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti gets a ‘0’

Bitter infighting within its rank and file has cost the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) dearly, as it drew a blank in all the constituencies — Belgaum North, Belgaum South, Belgaum Rural, and Khanapur — it fielded its candidates. Many feel the once strong political force agitating to merge the border districts of Belgaum and Karwar with Maharashtra from 1956 onwards might actually find it difficult to carry on as the collective Maratha vote bank, which voted as many as seven MLAs in the past, is now a spent force.

Senior MES leader Raju Marve admitted that several members in the community were able to cut each other’s vote share, which resulted in this loss. “Till the last date for nominations, all of us were pleading with rival candidates to work out a consensus. Now it is too late.”

In 2008, too, the MES had faced a similar crushing defeat as it drew a blank at the hustings. “It took five years to work out the differences and bring everyone together. We were able to win at least two seats in 2013. But many of our people forgot this and we had to pay dearly,” Ashtekar added.

Aware of the power of the Maratha vote in the region, both the Congress and BJP had fielded Maratha candidates who have emerged victorious in their seats.

DIVIDED THEY FELL

The collective Maratha vote bank which sent as many as 7 MLAs in the past is a spent force now with members of the community contesting polls against each other for lack of consensus and cutting each other’s vote share.