While across most of Maharashtra multi-party poll contests have increased the uncertainty of the result, it appears that most political heavyweights in Western Maharashtra are unperturbed by the phenomena.
What is the situation?
In fact, it appears that some of them who have been ministers may even benefit from the split in the votes when otherwise it was felt that they were staring at defeat due to anti-incumbency.
These leaders who have occupied ministerial chambers for up to three consecutive terms have little to show for themselves in their constituencies.
Who are the heavyweights?
Two such cases are Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, former agriculture minister, and Balasaheb Thorat, former revenue minister, who have filed their nominations from Sangamner and Shirdi.
Both would have had a tough time against a united Shiv Sena-BJP. Now, with the Congress, NCP, SS and BJP contesting separately the two former ministers appear confident of winning with comfortable margins.
Are all biggies confident?
Jayant Patil, former minister for rural development, and Patangrao Kadam, former forest minister, who are contesting from constituencies in Sangli will also breathe a sigh of relief..
However, it might not be easy-going for the former home minister RR Patil who is contesting from Tasgaon assembly segment in Sangli. Sources say that the minister had campaigned against Sanjay Patil of the BJP in the Lok Sabha election from Sangli, a traditional Congress stronghold.
Sanjay defeated Pratik Patil, the former union minister of state for coal, and it is said that he has now decided to join forces against RR Patil in the Tasgaon election.
What about former CM?
In Satara, the most interesting contest will be between formrer chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and Congress rebel Vilaskaka Undalkar-Patil, also a former minister.
Undalkar-Patil was MLA from Satara and refused to vacate the seat for Chavan. Now the NCP, which has targeted Chavan, has withdrawn its candidate Rajendra Yadav and extended support to Undalkar-Patil.
The other major candidates contesting from Satara are Atul Bhosale of the BJP and Ajinkya Patil of the Shiv Sena. Bhosale is the grandson of Yashwantrao Mohite, a stalwart of the cooperative movement. Ajinkya is the son of Bihar governor DY Patil.
Any other major contests?
Harshavardhan Patil, a former Congress minister who is re-contesting from Indapur, Pune, will also find it tough going against Dattatray Bharane of the NCP. Patil has been a minister for nearly two decades.
Ajit Pawar, former deputy chief minister on the other hand, is expected to have it easy in Baramati as there is no formidable opposition. The Congress doesn't have much of a presence in the constituency that is the home of the Pawar family.
Ajit has been elected from the assembly constituency repeatedly for five terms.
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