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The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, eyeing a return to power in the upcoming Maharashtra elections, is strategically focusing on the sugar belt of western Maharashtra. This region, home to 70 of the state's 288 Assembly seats, is pivotal to the alliance's electoral success. In the 2019 polls, the MVA secured 39 seats in the region, with the NCP winning 27 and the Congress securing 12, effectively limiting the BJP to 20 seats.
To bolster their presence, the MVA is deploying a two-pronged approach. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar, known for his strategic prowess, is actively holding meetings with party leaders in the region, while the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is making his second visit to the region within a month. Gandhi's upcoming visit to Kolhapur on October 4-5 will involve various programmes, including the unveiling of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and a Constitution conference.
The sugar belt, historically controlled by Congress and NCP leaders, has witnessed a shift in loyalty towards the BJP in recent times. However, following the split in the NCP, the political power center remains uncertain. Regaining control of the sugar mills and the region's politics is crucial for both the Congress and the NCP to secure a victory in the upcoming elections. The Lok Sabha election results provide a glimmer of hope, with the MVA winning seven seats in the region, while the ruling alliance secured three.
Pawar, recognizing the importance of the sugar belt, has been actively engaging in efforts to strengthen the alliance's position. He has undertaken extensive travel across the region, holding meetings and forging connections to replicate the MVA's 2019 success. Despite the NCP split, Pawar is strategically deploying fresh faces, particularly in Pune, Ahmadnagar, Kolhapur, and Solapur.
Pawar's strategy involves a combination of promoting young leaders and reconnecting with old colleagues. He is considering Amit Bhangre for the Akole seat, Rohit Patil for the Tasgaon seat, and his grandnephew Yugendra Pawar for the Baramati seat. Recently, Pawar announced Samarjeet Ghatge, son of the late cooperative giant Vikramsinh Ghatge, as the NCP's candidate from the Kagal Assembly seat. Ghatge, who joined the NCP from the BJP, is set to challenge NCP minister Hasan Mushrif.
Pawar's efforts also include mending fences with former colleagues. Prior to the Lok Sabha results, Pawar resolved his differences with Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil in Solapur and secured his nephew Dhairyasheel's victory in the Madha Lok Sabha seat. This reconciliation has led to a joint program in Akluj, Solapur, where Mohite-Patil and senior Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde addressed the audience. They have reportedly settled their differences and divided the seats.
Pawar, having addressed concerns in Kolhapur, is now focusing on Satara, a region considered his stronghold but lost in the recent parliamentary polls. NCP insiders attribute this loss to the similarity in poll symbols between their candidate and an Independent. Despite these challenges, Pawar is confident in his ability to mobilize the region's support, confident that the current government will be replaced in the upcoming elections.
Source: Rahul’s visits, Pawar’s manoeuvres: How MVA is working to win Maharashtra’s sugar belt