According to senior Congress leader, in Marathwada, Marathas are largest populations, followed by Lingayat, Vanjari, Dalit, Muslim and Dhangar community.
After successfully stitching a caste combination alliance of Maratha, Muslim and Kunbi (DMK) in Vidarbha, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has been emphasising on the Maratha, Dalit and Muslim (MDM) factor in Marathwada for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra.
According to senior Congress leader, in Marathwada, Marathas are largest populations, followed by Lingayat, Vanjari, Dalit, Muslim and Dhangar community. "In 2014, the lower rank of Marathas deserted the Opposition. They voted for Shiv Sena BJP. Out of seven Lok Sabha seats, the Congress got only two — Nanded and Hingoli. We want to improve our tally," said a senior Congress leader requested anonymity.
Jaydeo Dole, senior political analyst from Marathwada said that besides caste combinations, the rural unrest is a major factor going against the BJP government. "Farmers are unhappy with the incumbent government. Currently, Congress and NCP has an edge on five out of the seven seats — Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Buldhana, Osamanabad. In Aurangabad, voters are unhappy with Shiv Sena MP Chandrakant Khaire," Dole said.
He added that some RSS people are indirectly suggesting people to vote for AIMIM nominee and MLA Imtiaz Jaleel in Aurangabad so that the Congress does not get the seat. "People are not clear whom to vote in Aurangabad," Dole said.
In Beed, people are circulating messages on social media appealing the Maratha community to vote for a Maratha candidate. In Beed, NCP's Bajrang Sonawane is pitted against Pritam Munde, daughter of late Gopinath Munde. Sonawane is Maratha by caste while Munde Vajari-OBC. In this LS constituency, seven lakh Marathas while 4.5 Vanjari and two lakh Muslim and Dalit will exercise their ballot. "If the MDM consolidate, then we will have surprising results in Marathwada," said a senior NCP leader.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Bajrang Sonawane and Pritam Munde")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}