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From irrigation to credit loans, Tasgaon has come a long way

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Braving the October heat, a handful of people turned up to hear former home minister RR Patil at Mirajkar vasti in Sangli's Tasgaon. "Change has come to Tasgaon... it will soon make massive strides based on agricultural development," says Patil, patting himself on the back for ensuring water from three sources, namely the Arfal, Takari and Mhaisal dams, for the constituency.

Patil then attacks the Narendra Modi-led government, accusing it of working against interests of grape, pomegranate, sugarcane and onion farmers.

Later, ensconced in his SUV, Patil, who is engaged in a tough battle from the Tasgaon- Kavathe Mahankal seat, tells dna he is confident of victory after ensuring water for farms and better roads. He adds that he plans to establish an industrial area for the unemployed and ensure water to the remaining villages.

In this once parched constituency, which has seen an expansion in its irrigation network, terms of engagement with voters have moved from demanding water for agriculture to claiming credit for these works. However, some villages are yet to get water. Tasgaon, which is famous for table grapes, sees an annual turnover of Rs450 crore of raisins, next only to Nashik.

In the office of the local milk federation, where vehicles parked outside have the word 'Sarkar' written on their number plates and wind shields, the man who is addressed by the honorific due to his feudal origins — Patil's principal challenger and former minister Ajitrao Ghorpade (BJP) rubbishes his adversary's claims.

"When I was elected as an independent MLA in 1995, my only condition for supporting the Shiv Sena and BJP government was completion of irrigation projects," says Ghorpade, alleging that Patil was claiming credits for projects started in his tenure as the vice-chairman of the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC). "In the last five years, the irrigation network has not been expanded by even 10 feet," says Ghorpade, former minister of state for irrigation.

Ghorpade and Patil are locked in a fierce contest, with Mahesh Kharade (Shiv Sena), Sudhakar Khade (MNS) and Suresh Shendge (Congress), the son of former minister and dhangar leader Shivajibapu Shendge also in the fray. Modi also held a well-attended rally at Tasgaon though Patil claims this may swing sympathy votes in his favour.

"We lost five years, otherwise the region would have been completely irrigated," says former Congressman Ghorpade, who is being supported by Patil's arch rival and BJP MP from Sangli, Sanjaykaka Patil, who too belongs to Tasgaon. The rivalry between the two Patils runs deep.

Sanjaykaka, whose uncle and former MLA Dinkaraba Patil had initially mentored Patil, snatched the traditional Congress Lok Sabha seat from former CM Vasantdada Patil's grandson Pratik, leading by 38,000 votes from Tasgaon.

"After independence, the constituency's politics has revolved around water... first, as it was scarce and now, over claiming credit for giving it," says NCP leader Namdeorao Kargane, adding that Patil's 's work in irrigation would be a clincher.

Patil's aide Vijaykumar Sagare of the Mahankali sugar co-operative in Kavathe Mahankal said increased water availability had helped farmers grow "money crops" like sugarcane, promegranate and grapes, which increased disposable incomes.

However, his supporters admit that the contest may be too close. The perceived distance with voters and anger against a coterie of NCP leaders could queer the pitch for him. This has led to Patil soliciting support even in smaller settlements like Mirajkar vasti with just 65 voters. The Sena and Congress candidate are expected to play spoilers, though Shendge may hurt Patil more.

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