The potholed road to outgoing chief minister Prithviraj Chavan's bungalow in the upmarket Patan colony area in Satara's Karad town is perhaps a metaphor for the bumpy ride on his hands in his maiden attempt to enter the state legislature.
Chavan is pitched against seven-term Congress MLA and rebel Vilaskaka Patil Undalkar, with whom Chavan has a history of acrimony, former minister Yashwantrao Mohite's grandson Dr Atul Bhosale (BJP) and education baron and Bihar Governor D.Y Patil's son Ajeenkya (Shiv Sena), in what promises to be a cliffhanger of a contest in the Karad (South) seat.
But, this will be a Congress vs Congress fight in the party bastion, which has seen only two legislators since 1952, both of whom were Congressmen, (Yashwantrao Mohite and Undalkar) with even Chavan's principal challengers tracing their origins to the party.
This will be Chavan's first public election after the three-term MP was defeated by former IAS officer and incumbent Sikkim governor Srinivas Patil in 1999.
Local residents lament that despite Karad boasting of three CMs —Yashwantrao Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan and Uttar Pradesh CM late GB Pant, the town lacks necessary infrastructure and a strong industrial base.
At Karad's suburb of Malkapur, known for India's first 24X7 water supply and free bus service for girls, Chavan's wife Satvasheela is empathic when addressing a gathering of women. "Last time we met, it was 17-0," she says, referring to the Congress sweeping the local civic body. "What will it be this time? 100%?," said former teacher Satvasheela, adding that Chavan (whose parents Dajisaheb and Premlakaki have also represented the Karad Lok Sabha seat) had worked hard for Maharashtra since taking over as the chief minister.
Standing nearby, a local Congress leader agrees. "Baba (Chavan) is a clean man. He has allocated works to the tune of Rs 1,800 crore for Karad," he noted, while however adding that the fight may be too close to call, thanks to Undalkar's massive voter connect. He listed works like a regional transport office, ITI and an earthquake research centre as Chavan's achievements.
In his sparse, two-storied bungalow, Undalkar (76), who refused to make way for Chavan when he became the chief minister in 2010 and the man standing between him and victory, is unfazed. "Massive money is being pumped in. I have no money. People are contributing for me," said Undalkar, in his trademark, incomprehensible drawl. Undalkar, a MLA since 1980, is known to leave home at 9 AM daily to meet voters, also attacked Chavan's "Mr Clean" image, alleging that "what lies behind the mask was horrible."
Ironically, though the NCP decided to support Undalkar by withdrawing its candidate, the nominee Rajendra Yadav has thrown in his lot with Chavan! Undalkar's associates accuse Chavan of implicating his son Udaysinh in wrestler Sanjay Patil's murder.
At the 'Priti sangam' where the Krishna and Koyna rivers intersect, a young professional says even as Chavan and Undalkar fight, the BJP's Bhosale may emerge the dark horse in the predominantly urban constituency, thanks to the Narendra Modi wave among youth and professionals. In the Lok Sabha, NCP MP and Satara royal Udayanraje Bhosale trailed Shiv Sena rebel Purushottam Jadhav in Karad city.
"My agenda will be the development of the constituency, jobs for the youth, new industries in the region, and a boost for women self help groups and industries," said education baron Bhosale (31), the son-on-law of late chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's brother Diliprao. He claimed Chavan had little to offer his constituents except promises.
"When the chief minister is contesting, it makes little sense to defeat him and elect a person like Vilaskaka, a good man who is past his prime. Hence, he needs to promote the new generation," said local resident Muhammed Ali Khwajamiya Kazi.
Constituency:
Located at the confluence of the Krishna and Koyna rivers, Karad is a part of Maharashtra's sugar bowl. The town, which traces its origins to the Shilaharas, is placed strategically on the Mumbai-Bangalore National Highway and also has a rail head and airstrip. The region has a large number of people in the armed forces and social reformer Gopal Ganesh Agarkar hailed from the area.
Issues:
Lack of industries, poor roads, need for better infrastructure, demand for a new district of Karad, poor solid waste management, challenges of urbanisation.
Demographics:
Maratha dominated, with Muslims, Dhangars, Gujaratis and other trading communities, Lingayats, Jains and Dalits.
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