Family wars galore this Maharashtra Elections 2024

The upcoming November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections is witnessing an intriguing mix of political rivalry and familial ties, as brothers, cousins, and father-children duos step into the electoral battlefield. In some constituencies, members from the same family are even pitted against each other.

The Pawar family showdown

One of the most watched contests is unfolding in Baramati, where debutant Yugendra Pawar of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) will face his uncle, the seasoned Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who represents the NCP. 

Ajit Pawar, a veteran of seven assembly wins and a former Baramati MP, will once again defend his stronghold against a family member. This clash comes after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where Ajit's wife Sunetra Pawar was defeated by cousin and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule.

In the adjacent Karjat-Jamkhed constituency, another nephew of Ajit Pawar, Rohit Pawar, is running as the NCP (SP) candidate, facing BJP's Ram Shinde. Rohit is the grand-nephew of NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar.

High-profile family battles

The elections are also marked by a battle between estranged spouses in the Kannad constituency. Independent candidate Harshwardhan Jadhav is competing against his wife Sanjana Jadhav, a Shiv Sena candidate and daughter of BJP leader Raosaheb Danve. Sanjana’s brother, Santosh Danve, is also contesting from Bhokardan in Jalna as a BJP candidate.

The Deshmukh brothers, Amit and Dhiraj, sons of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, are running as Congress candidates from Latur City and Latur Rural, respectively. 

Similarly, the Rane brothers, Nitesh and Nilesh -- sons of BJP MP and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane -- are contesting from Kudal and Kankavli for Shiv Sena and BJP, respectively.

Mumbai's family dynamics

In Mumbai, the Thackeray cousins are set to make their mark from different constituencies. Aaditya Thackeray, the sitting Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA, is seeking re-election from Worli, while his maternal cousin Varun Sardesai is contesting from Vandre (Bandra) East on a Shiv Sena ticket. 

Amit Thackeray, son of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, is running from Mahim.

The Naik family will also be represented in the polls, with former minister Ganesh Naik running as a BJP candidate from Airoli, while his son Sandeep Naik contests from neighboring Belapur as an NCP (SP) candidate.

Other family contests

Maharashtra minister Vijaykumar Gavit is competing from Nandurbar as a BJP candidate, with his daughter Heena Gavit running independently from Akkalkuwa. 

NCP (SP) state chief Jayant Patil is in the race in Islampur, while his nephew Prajakt Tanpure seeks victory in Rahuri on the party's ticket. 

Chhagan Bhujbal, an NCP minister, is contesting from Yevala, and his nephew, Sameer Bhujbal, runs as an independent from Nandgaon.

BJP's Ashish Shelar will contest from Vandre (Bandra) West, with his brother Vinod Shelar running from Malad West. 

In Nanded, BJP's Santukrao Hambarde is contesting the Lok Sabha bypoll, while his brother Mohanrao Hambarde, a sitting MLA, is running for the assembly under the Congress banner.

PTI