Lok Sabha Elections 2024: ‘Presence of UBT candidate will only benefit BJP,' locals say

Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Chandrahar Patil at a meeting held in Palus, Sangli on April 28; (right) Independent candidate Vishal Patil at his Sangli residence on April 28. Pics/Anurag Ahire

As this Lok Sabha constituency prepares for a three-way fight between sitting BJP MP and Mahayuti candidate Sanjaykaka Patil, Congress rebel and Independent candidate Vishal Patil and Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate Chandrahar Patil, residents feel that the real fight is between the incumbent and the renegade. mid-day learnt that Sanjaykaka Patil and Vishal Patil, the grandson of the late Chief Minister Vasant Dada Patil, are more popular among the voters than the two-time Maharashtra Kesari winner Chandrahar Patil.

Locals told this reporter that the people were unhappy with Congress for leaving this seat with the Thackeray faction, ignoring Vishal Patil, who was interested in contesting on a Congress ticket. Vivek Pawar, a local, said, "We are angry with Sena (UBT) for declaring Chandrahar Patil the MVA candidate despite knowing that Vishal Dada is popular among the people. I feel the vote will be split between Chandrahar and Vishal Dada, which might help the BJP candidate."

What electors want

All three candidates are making sure they visit as many villages as possible. One of the biggest issues in the constituency is that of water scarcity. In Jath taluka, tankers are supplying water to villages. Increasing unemployment and price rise are affecting not just the people in rural pockets but also those in the city.

Sitting BJP MP and Mahayuti candidate Sanjaykaka Patil during his campaign trail. Pic/Facebook

Arun Patil, a villager from Tasgaon, said, "We are not interested in the politics that parties play. All we want is someone who will address the issues that affect the common man. Inflation is rising and water scarcity is something that should be seriously looked into. We expect the MP whom we elect to bring irrigation-related schemes to our constituency because the majority of the people are dependent on farming."

Recently during a Congress rally, Dr Vishwajeet Kadam had said that his party would follow alliance Dharma but he and party workers in Sangli were not happy about giving the seat to Shiv Sena (UBT). No wonder, the Congress high command hasn't taken disciplinary action against Vishal Patil despite a rebel in the neighbouring Kolhapur constituency being suspended from the party for six years earlier this week.

Former Congress stronghold

The Sangli Lok Sabha constituency has been a stronghold of the Congress, with the party winning the seat from 1962 to 2009. The BJP won for the first time in 2014 and retained the seat in 2019. However, the BJP made inroads with Sanjaykaka Patil's win against Congress's Pratik Patil, Vishal's brother. In 2019, Congress had left the seat for Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, but Sanjaykaka won the seat again, beating Vishal Patil, who was fighting on a Swabhimani Paksha and supported by the Congress-NCP alliance. Sanjaykaka's winning margin had reduced in 2019.

While is section of voters are not happy with the sitting MP, some are satisfied with the work done by him. In the three-way fight that is happening, Chandrahar Patil was praised for his wrestling prowess but people have their doubts about him as a politician. "Chandrahar Patil is an exceptional wrestler, there is no doubt about it. But we would prefer to choose between the other candidates to represent us," said a villager from Palus.

Facts and figures

>> Since 1967, Congress has won this seat 11 times while BJP has won twice. In 2019, BJP's Sanjaykaka Patil secured 5,08,995 votes, winning by a margin of 1,64,352. Vishal Patil was the runner-up, with 3,44,643. Gopichand Padalkar, the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi candidate, stood third, with 3,00,234 votes.
>> There are six Assembly segments within the Sangli Lok Sabha constituency: Khanapur, Sangli, Miraj, Palus-Kadegaon, Tasgaon-Kavanthe Mahankal and Jath.

Candidates' strengths and weaknesses

Sanjaykaka Patil, BJP candidate
Advantage: He is a two-time MP and PM Narendra Modi's popularity may benefit him.
Disadvantage: The anti-incumbency factor may have a negative impact.

Vishal Patil, Independent candidate
Advantage: Sympathy factor exists as despite being the late Vasant Dada Patil's grandson, he was denied a ticket by Congress.
Disadvantage: The splitting of votes between him and the UBT candidate may help the BJP.

Chandrahar Patil, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate
Advantage: With the split in Shiv Sena and NCP, there is a sympathy wave for Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar and the anti-Mahayuti votes can get transferred to him.
Disadvantage: The sympathy wave for Vishal Patil and locals' anger against Shiv Sena (UBT).