The fate of political bigwigs will be decided in the Marathwada seats of Aurangabad, Jalna and Beed as they are scheduled to go to polls in the fourth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.
While Jalna and Beed are witnessing a direct conflict, Aurangabad is experiencing a triangular fight.
The seat of Lok Sabha is still known as Aurangabad, but the city and district was named after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of the legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It was named Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
In Aurangabad, sitting MP Imtiyaz Jaleel, who is the president of the Maharashtra chapter of the All India Majlis-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by journalist-turned-politician Asaduddin Owaisi, will He is contesting against two candidates from two Sena groups. . The Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray fielded Chandrakant Khaire, a four-time MP, while the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, fielded a five-time MP from Paisan. , supported Sandipangrao Bhumle, who is currently the Minister of Employment Guarantee. In the BJP-led Maha Yuti government. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Mr Jaleel had defeated Mr Khaire.
While Jaleel is doing everything he can to stay in Aurangabad, the two rival Shiv Sena factions are trying to regain a foothold in the seat.
Aurangabad district is also the tourism hub of the state as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora are located within the district.
In Beed, the Bharatiya Janata Party supremo has appointed his sister Pankaja Munde, who is the party’s national general secretary, to replace two-time sitting MP Dr Pritam Munde. Sister Munde is the daughter of legendary Bharatiya Janata Party leader Gopinath Munde and niece of the late Pramod Mahajan. In Beed, Sharad Pawar-led NCP fielded Bajrang Songwane. Pankaja’s cousin is Dhananjay Munde, who is close to NCP president and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. In the 2019 Vidhan Sabha polls, Mr. Dhananjay had defeated Mr. Pankaja from the Parli seat, but this time it appears to be an even contest.
Meanwhile, in Jalna, Minister for Railways, Coal and Mines Raosaheb Patil Dambe, a five-time sitting MP, is facing Congress’ Dr Kalyan Kale, a former MLA from Pranburi. Danbu’s son, Santosh Danbu, is currently his MLA from Bokhardan city, which his father represented twice. A grassroots leader, he was one of the key players in building the Bharatiya Janata Party’s network in Maharashtra.
In fact, Antarwari Sarathi, where Shivva Sanghatana founder Jalange Patil holds protests and rallies demanding reservation for Marathas, is located in Jalna.
Some of the key issues include the situation of farmers and the Maratha vs. OBC reservation issue.
issued May 8, 2024, 01:48 IST
