In the Karad South Assembly constituency, a seat long considered a Congress stronghold, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is gearing up for a high-stakes battle against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Atul Bhosale in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.

A Historic Rivalry

Chavan, who has held the Karad South seat for two consecutive terms, is aiming for a third. However, the path to another victory might not be as easy this time around. While Chavan has a strong foothold in the constituency, the growing influence of the BJP in the region has raised concerns among Congress supporters. In the previous two elections, Bhosale has steadily narrowed the vote gap between himself and Chavan, from 18,210 votes in 2014 to just 9,130 votes in 2019.

BJP’s Growing Influence

Though Bhosale has faced defeat in the past two elections, he has managed to significantly expand his voter base. This surge in support is largely attributed to the BJP's rising influence in Satara district, with the party's visibility and organizational strength growing with each passing election. The BJP is confident that the increased backing in the region could finally tip the scales in Bhosale’s favour in 2024.

Adding to the BJP’s optimism is its strong performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Udayanraje Bhosale, the BJP candidate for Satara, won with a substantial vote share in the Karad South region, indicating a shift in voter preferences that could benefit Atul Bhosale in this assembly contest.

Other Candidates in the Fray

Other candidates in the race include Krishna Gaikwad from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Indrajit Gujar from Swabhimani Paksha, Mahesh Jirange from Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, Sanjay Gade from Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, and independent candidates Vishwjeet Undalkar and Shama Shaikh.

Polling date and results

The Latur City constituency will go to polls on November 20, along with all other seats in the state. Counting of votes for all seats will be held on November 23.