Formidable Challenge To Five-Time MLA Hasan Mushrif From Rival NCP SP's Ghatge In Kagal

Many constituencies in Maharashtra are bracing for  fierce at the same time interesting battle due to the change in politics with the recent splits in major parties. One such is Kagal constituency, which is all set to test the supremacy of the two factions of the NCP in one of its historic strongholds.

A citadel of the party, the constituency has been represented by NCP’s Hasan Mushrif since 1999. Following the split in the party, Mushrif chose to stand with Ajit Pawar’s factions and is currently serving as Maharashtra Education Minister in the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government.

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Notably, determined to defeat his former associate and long term Kagal MLA, Sharad Pawar has picked Samarjeetsinh Ghatge as NCP SP candidate. One of the formidable adversaries of the Mushrif who has fought as independent against the sitting MLA during the past elections, Ghatge won significant vote share and built inroads in the constituency over the years.

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During the 2019 assembly elections, the six-time MLA won only by a 28.133-vote majority, while Vikramsinh became the runner-up, securing over 88,000 votes. In a bid to reinforce the votes in favor of Ghatge, the NCP SP chief has even hinted that if elected, Ghatge would probably be a minister in Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) government in the state. Ghatge was a former BJP district president and one of the top saffron party leaders in western Maharashtra, and it is said that jumping into Ajit Pawar’s faction might ensure the secular votes in his favor, leaving the MLA’s vote bank in trouble.

Ghatge had earlier accused Mushrif of corruption and money laundering and even got the central agencies to raid the MLA’s properties. However, since the split, the fight is equally about who is superior among the NCP and NCP (SP) in the state. It is to see if the sitting MLA could retain Kagal for sixth consecutive term, beating the anti-incumbency and the challenge created by the post-split political picture of Maharashtra.