Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Less ground work, more fighting in Osmanabad

Omprakash Rajenimbalkar is a Shiv Sena politician from Dharashiv

Voters of Osmanabad Constituency say the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 scenario has become a daily family soap opera, starring the Rajenimbalkar and Patil families. MP Omprakash Rajenimbalkar is the candidate for the Shiv Sena UBT and Archana Patil is a candidate for the Nationalist Congress party Mahayuti for Osmanabad Constituency. It is the ongoing family dispute between the Patil and Rajenimbalkar families that is being discussed more during the election campaign.

Villagers of Osmanabad Constituency Vashi Tashil told mid-day that the issue of development is missing from the election. "Both candidates are mostly busy slamming each other over their family rivalry," said villager Bhagwan Pawar, adding that candidates should be talking about development and their vision for the district and constituency. "But this point is missing. They are busy picking on each other. We are missing development. Our needs are ‘pani, kheti, and nokri' ( water, agriculture and job). They should talk about what they are going to do for that."

In Dharashiv, due to lack of proper planning, waste is clogging up nullahs

Another villager, Ibrahim Sheikh, told mid-day that this district hardly sees development while surrounding district headquarters have developed in the last four decades. "But our district has not developed as much as it needs to be. Candidates should focus on the development issue." Dashrath Dhumal said, "We vote for development. But we hardly saw any. Even now in the election campaign, we barely witness development issues."

"Both candidates are busy with personal issues. They should talk about development. Migration in the district is very high as agriculture can give good income so we can survive. As industrialisation is very low, our youth are not getting jobs," says Pandurang Surwase, a local. A villager said on the condition of anonymity that the Mahayuti candidate is mentioning the work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "But we need an MP to solve our local problems."

How did Latur develop?

"Latur district was a tehsil of Dharashiv District (formerly known as Osmanabad) till the mid-1980s. Later, it became a separate district, and developed rapidly due to the strong political leadership. Osmanabad has been missing visionary political leadership," says Wajid Pathan, a local.

The roads are in bad condition in Dharashiv. Pic/Nimesh Dave

"When we compare Latur with Dharashiv, we feel bad. We are envious of Latur's political leadership. It is evident that if a political leader has a vision for development, he can make it possible - Latur is the perfect example of it," said a voter of Dharashiv city.

We are working for 400-plus

Gound-level party workers of the BJP were upset with Mahayuti's decision to give this constituency to the NCP in seat sharing. A BJP functionary at the taluka level said that we have three MLAs. "Three MLAs of undivided Shiv Sena were elected. Two of them are with the alliance. BJP and Shiv Sena are strong in the district. However, this constituency was given to the NCP. We are not able to understand this decision. Even candidate Archana Patil's husband Rana Jagjit Singh Patil is MLA of BJP in Tuljapur tehsil," he stated, adding, "We are upset. Even voters are asking us. But we are working to complete the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 400-plusMPs."

Rajenimbalkar's second time

Rajenimbalkar defeated Rana Jagjit Singh Patil in the 2014 Lok Sabha election by 1.27 lakh votes. Rajenimbalkar secured 5.94 votes and Patil got 4.69 lakh votes. Patil was a candidate for the undivided NCP. After losing the election he joined the BJP and was elected as MLA of Tuljapur which is part of the Osmanabad constituency. He is the son of the heavyweight leader of NCP Padmasingh Patil.

"My father was murdered. How can I forget that? But it does not mean I am not talking about development. I'm aware that in this election I have to tell voters what I have done in the last five years and what I will do in the next five years. I'm sharing my master plan with the voters. I have a plan for the agriculture and industrial development of the constituency," Rajenimbalkar told mid-day. Even after repeated attempts to connect with NCP candidate Archana Patil, contacting her on mobile, and visiting her office and residence, we did not get a response from her or the party official.

Om Rajenimbalkar (Shiv Sena-UBT)

Plus Points
>> Ground connection. He continues to visit villages
>> First person who raised voice to increase reservation limit for Marathas
>> The MVA government started a medical college
>> He has ample support from the Muslim community

Minus Points
>> Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the face of the Lok Sabha election
>> Possibility of the divide between Dalit and OBC voters as Dalits have the option of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi
>> NCP (SP) and Congress don't have strong ground connections in the constituency

Archana Patil (NCP)

Plus Points
>> There is no strong presence of the NCP Sharad Pawar and Congress in the district
>> Has support from the Maratha and OBC voters
>> Good connection with women voters
>> Recall value. Candidate Archana Patil is the daughter-in-law of former Minister Padmasinh Patil

Minus Points
>> Running own campaign, without involving alliance parties
>> Voters felt that Osmanabad did not develop as expected during the tenure of the Patil family
>> Less possibility of attracting Muslim voters