It’s a family affair in Vidarbha

 (1)Dharmraobaba Atram    (2) Bhagyashree Atram            (3)Ambarish Atram                (4)Rajendra Shingane   (5)Gayatri Shingane

 

 

 

Congress is being termed as a dynasty-run party due to Gandhis. But now Pawars, Thackerays, Patils, Deshmukhs too are following the path. The 2024 Assembly polls in Maharashtra is witnessing such wave of dynasty-run politics. In many constituencies, one gets to see that family members are in fray either against each other or contesting from adjacent constituencies. Vidarbha too is witnessing such family affair in most constituencies. Aheri in Gadchiroli district is one such Assembly constituency where Atrams run the show. Till now, nobody could defeat Atrams except on one occasion. This time, Minister Dharmraobaba Atram is contesting from this constituency on the ticket of Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar). His daughter Bhagyashree Atram parted way from his father and is now fielded by NCP (Sharad Pawar). Meanwhile Ambarish Atram, a former Minister and BJP leader has filed his nomination as an independent candidate. Ambarish also belongs to same Atram clan. In Buldhana, former Minister Dr Rajendra Shingane is a known name.

 

He is contesting from Sindkhed Raja constituency while his niece Gayatri Shingane has filed nomination as an independent. This constituency also witnessed drama. Rajendra Shingane had joined Ajit Pawar faction of NCP so Sharad Pawar gave ticket to Gayatri. But suddenly, Shingane left Ajit Pawar faction and joined Sharad Pawar group and got the ticket from that group. This move of Sharad Pawar group irked Gayatri who has filed nomination as an independent. Dr Shingane’s move brought Mahayuti in trouble as the alliance was banking on Rajendra Shingane. Now this constituency is witnessing fight of two from a family. In Warora constituency, on the insistence of MP Pratibha Dhanorkar, Congress gave ticket to her brother Praveen Kakade.

 

Opposing his candidature, Anil Dhanorkar, brother of late Balu Dhanorkar filed nomination from this constituency. Anil is brother-in-law of Pratibha Dhanorkar. Sanjay Deotale, who was with Congress for the last 22 years, joined BJP, which fielded his son Karan from Warora constituency. In Karanja (Lad), both opposition parties have fielded the candidates of generation next. BJP has fielded former MLA late Prakash Dahake’s wife Sai Dahake. BJP’s Rajendra Patni who died recently had been the party’s MLA for three terms. Shockingly, his son Kyayak Patni joined NCP SP which gave him ticket in Karanja (Lad). Sharad Pawar had experimented with Amar Kale in Lok Sabha elections from Wardha who defeated Ramdas Tadas, three-time MP of BJP. Showing faith in Kale, Pawar gave Arvi’s ticket to his wife Mayura.

 

Kale was defeated from Arvi by Dadarao Keche. This time, BJP replaced Keche with novice Sumit Wankhede. Wardha Congress witnessed some ‘incoming’ like Abhyuday Meghe before elections but it kept faith in Shekhar Shende, son of late Pramod Shende. Mahesh Ganagane, son of former MLA Sudhakar Ganagane, got the ticket from Akola. Former Congress Minister Sunil Kedar had to field his wife Anuja from Saoner as High Court had convicted him, rendering him ineligible to contest elections. Anuja Kedar is contesting elections for the first time. In the same constituency, people are witnessing the candidature of two Deshmukh brothers-- Dr Ashish from BJP and Dr Amol as an independent. Former Congress Minister Shivaji Moghe’s son Jitendra Moghe is contesting from Arni in Yavatmal district. Yadnyavalkya Jichkar, son of former Minister late Dr Shrikant Jichkar is contesting from Katol as rebel. BJP fielded Abhijit Adsul, son of former MP Anand Adsul, from the Daryapur seat.