Different DMK helps save Congress face in the Maharashtra

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) may be the name of a political party in distant Tamil Nadu. But, a different DMK has helped save face for the Congress in Maharashtra by ensuring its sole victory even as its veterans like former chief minister Ashok Chavan and Sushilkumar Shinde bit the dust.

In Chandrapur, located at Maharashtra’s eastern tip bordering Telangana, the Dalit-Muslim-Kunbi (DMK) combination ensured that Shiv Sena MLA Suresh (Balu) Dhanorkar, who switched to the Congress, was elected defeating BJP heavyweight and Union Minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir.

The district, which is regarded as Maharashtra’s tiger capital, is seen as a BJP stronghold due to the presence of heavyweights like Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ family also hails from Mul in the district. 

Although Chandrapur is a cosmopolitan district, accounting for voters across caste and linguistic denominations due to its coal and limestone mines and industries, the Kunbi community is sizeable. Dhanorkar may have helped consolidate Kunbi voters along with strategic voting by Dalits and Muslims to see him through, admit BJP sources.