Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar will address his third rally in Kolhapur, the bastion of rebel NCP minister Hasan Mushriff, on August 25.
Kolhapur and Pawar have always had special relationship. Pawar always got huge support in Kolhapur city and district. However the fact remains that Kolhapur also saw close lieutenants of Pawar raising banners of revolt for various reasons.
Mushriff’s mentor and late MP Sadashiv Mandlik used to be a top lieutenant of Pawar in the beginning years of the NCP. However Mandlik later had a falling out with Pawar and contested 2004 Lok Sabha elections as an independent and won it, too. He defeated Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje from Kolhapur royal house who contested on NCP ticket. Mushriff, too, now has gone Mandlik way and joined Ajit Pawar’s group of rebels. And that is why Pawar senior is traveling to Kolhapur.
Pawar’s supporters from Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts are expected to attend the rally in large numbers. It will also be a show of strength for the Maha Vikas Aghadi as the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) cadres, too, will be present in large numbers.
Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, the head of Kolhapur royal family, will preside over Pawar’s rally event on August 25. This is a clear indication that the king of Kolhapur who has a sizeable following in the city and the district is leaning towards the MVA.
There is also a strong speculation that MVA candidate from Kolhapur in the upcoming LS election could be from the royal family. Shahu Maharaj is not in the mood to contest an election. However, his younger son Maloji Raje is looking to revive his political career. Maloji Raje has served one term as a Congress legislator in Maharashtra. So it would not be a surprise if his name emerges as front runner as the MVA candidate.
Also, since all three parties of the MVA—Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena—have staked claim on Kolhapur Lok Sabha seat, a member of the royal family could emerge as a consensus candidate.
Kolhapur rally will be Pawar’s third in the bastions of rebels. He addressed the first rally at Yeola in Nashik district, the constituency of Chhagan Bhujbal. The second rally was held on August 17 at Beed, the home turf of rebel NCP minister Dhananjay Munde.
