Congress' Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Wins From Kolhapur Lok Sabha constituency

Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Congress candidate from Kolhapur Lok Sabha constituency won the election by securing 754,522 votes. He defeated Shiv Sena candidate Sanjay Sadashivrao with a margin of 754,522 votes.

Congress has fielded Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivai Maharaj. After the party persuading Shahu Maharj to contest the elections from Kolhapur, he finally agreed and contested the election. He is the head of the erstwhile royal family that ruled the princely state of Kolhapur. Politically he has been close to Congress ideology but avoided joining the party after his attempt to get to the Lok Sabha failed in 1998. He is a well-respected figure in the Maratha community which has helped the NCP to get a strong support base in the constituency.

Sanjay Sadashivrao, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena candidate is the sitting MP from Kolhapur constituency. He is the son of the late Sadashivrao Mandlik who was elected as the MP from the same constituency.

The constituency is known for its spiritual significance. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, NCP’s Dhananjay Bhimrao Mahadik won by receiving 607,665 votes while Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Sadashiv Mandlik received 574,406 votes.

In the 2019 election, NCP once again fielded incumbent MP Dhananjay Bhimrao Mahadik while Shiv Sena nominated Sanay Sadashivrao Mandilk. Sanjay emerged victorious defeating the Congress candidate Dhananjay Mahadik securing 749,085 votes compared to Mahadiks 4,78,517 votes.

The trend shows that the Maha Vikas Agadhi has toppled the exit poll results and is leading in the state sweeping majority of the seats.