Maha Polls: Shreejaya, daughter of Ashok Chavan, wins Bhokar seat

Representing the BJP, Shreejaya Chavan, daughter of former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, triumphed over Congress candidate Tirupati Kondhekar, popularly known as Pappu Kondhekar, a grassroots leader renowned for being the voice of farmers.

The Bhokar seat recorded a voter turnout of 76.33% on November 20, in a high-stakes electoral contest between two first-time candidates, each carrying strong yet contrasting legacies.

A legacy under threat  

Bhokar, long considered a stronghold of the Chavan family, has been represented by the family for six terms in the Maharashtra Assembly. Shreejaya Chavan, a third-generation politician with roots in Mumbai where she studied and briefly practised law, fought to retain her family's legacy in this key constituency. Her father Ashok Chavan has served Bhokar as MLA in 2009 and 2019, while her mother won the seat in 2014. Before them, her grandfather and two-time Chief Minister Shankarrao Chavan represented Bhokar in the state assembly thrice.  

However, Shreejaya faced great challenges. Ashok Chavan’s switch from Congress to BJP ahead of the recent Lok Sabha election alienated many in Nanded district, where residents have traditionally resisted BJP nominees. Adding to the pressure were widespread discontent over low soybean and cotton prices, Maratha agitation over reservation, and voter frustration with dynastic politics.  

Tirupati Kondhekar: The underdog with farmer support  

On the other side was Tirupati Kondhekar, a second-generation Congressman and former district president of the Youth Congress. Hailing from a farmer’s family, Kondhekar spent two decades working under Ashok Chavan and was leveraging his grassroots connections to challenge the BJP in a constituency that has long stood against the saffron party.  

Kondhekar’s campaign, though modest in structure, resonated with local voters. His self-proclaimed identity as a “son of a farmer” and his criticism of the Chavans for failing to address agricultural issues have struck a chord with Bhokar’s rural electorate. Locals have rallied behind him, raising Rs 80 lakh for his campaign — a show of solidarity that could tilt the scales in his favour.  

The Constituency Dynamics  

Bhokar, with 3.03 lakh voters, presents a complex demographic landscape: 
- OBC voters: 1.2 lakh 
- Marathas: 80,000 
- Dalits: 48,000 
- Muslims: 35,000  

This diversity makes it a battleground where caste dynamics, economic grievances and political loyalties collide. 
 

2019 Bhokar Assembly Election Result

• Winner: Ashokrao Shankarrao Chavan (INC)  - Votes: 140559 
• Runner up: Shrinivas Alias Bapusaheb Deshmukh Gorthekar (BJP) - Votes: 43114

High stakes for both sides  

While Shreejaya Chavan fought to retain the Chavan family’s grip on Bhokar, Kondhekar portrayed himself as a people’s candidate, using the “common man Vs dynasty” narrative to challenge the BJP. With both debutants vying to make their mark, the election outcome will not only shape Bhokar’s future, but also signal the shifting political dynamics in Nanded district.  

This clash of legacies and grassroots politics made Bhokar one of the most closely watched contests in Maharashtra's assembly elections.