Maharashtra assembly elections: Constituencies where blood relations take a back seat to politics

Sharad Pawar is competing with his nephew Ajit Pawar to establish his party as the 'real NCP'. (Courtesy: PTI photo)

In the Maharashtra assembly elections, many seats feature family rivalries where politics overshadows blood relations. Fathers and daughters, uncles and nephews are contesting against each other. Brothers stand as candidates from opposing parties, as do fathers and sons.

The stage is set for a new round of Pawar vs. Pawar in Maharashtra, a sort of déjà vu for the people of Baramati who witnessed a clash between two Pawar family members in the Lok Sabha polls last May. That contest saw Sharad Pawar's daughter, Supriya Sule, go up against Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar. Now, the state will witness an uncle-nephew rivalry at two levels. Sharad Pawar is competing with his nephew Ajit Pawar to establish his party as the 'real NCP'. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar, contesting from the Baramati assembly seat, faces his own nephew, Yugendra Pawar, a newcomer fielded by NCP (SP).

Not only uncles and nephews but also a father and daughter are going head-to-head. In the Aheri seat of Gadchiroli district, four-time MLA and Mahayuti government minister Baba Dharmarav Aatram is being challenged by his daughter Bhagyashri Aatram. Baba Aatram represents Ajit Pawar's NCP, while his daughter is contesting on an NCP (SP) ticket from the same seat.

Other examples include BJP veteran Narayan Rane's two sons running from different parties in separate constituencies. Nitesh, the younger son, is a BJP candidate from Kankavli, while elder son Nilesh, who recently switched to Shiv Sena (Shinde), is contesting from Kudal. Although both belong to the Mahayuti alliance, other family members are standing against relatives in rival alliances. For instance, Ganesh Naik, the BJP MLA from Airoli, faces his younger son Sandeep, who left BJP to join NCP (SP) and is contesting from Belapur, while his elder brother Sanjeev remains with the BJP.

Similarly, Chhagan Bhujbal, an NCP stalwart, is running from the Yeola seat, while his nephew Sameer Bhujbal has resigned from NCP and is contesting from Nandgaon. Sameer sought an NCP ticket, but the seat was assigned to Shiv Sena (Shinde), which chose to repeat its sitting MLA, Suhas Kande.

Both the Mahayuti and Mahavikas alliances are dealing with internal rebellions after finalizing seat-sharing arrangements. Many denied hopefuls have joined other parties within their alliance or crossed over to the opposition. Such defections are expected to significantly impact election outcomes.