Social issues score over Pawar's PM dreams in Madha

Drought-like situation, extreme scarcity of water and the division of votes between the Maratha and shepherd communities are expected to dominate the voting pattern in the Madha constituency in western Maharashtra, where Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar is contesting the coming Lok Sabha elections.

While NCP supporters continue to brag about Pawar’s candidature for the prime ministership, voters in Madha seem to be more worried over water scarcity and growing unemployment in this region.

Post-delimitation, the Madha constituency was carved out of Satara, Solapur and Osmanabad districts, where the NCP and Congress jointly enjoy a stronghold. In a bid to avoid a possible rebellion within the party in Madha, Pawar decided to move here for the first time, leaving Baramati, his traditional pocket-borough, for his daughter and current Rajya Sabha MP Supriya Sule.

While local party workers and political experts are sure of Pawar’s victory from Madha, there are concrete chances of a narrow winning margin for the NCP chief as compared to his previous consecutive victories in Baramati. Pawar himself seems quite confident of an easy win in Madha. After holding a few public rallies initially, he decided not to campaign in Madha anymore. The Madha Lok Sabha constituency comprises Maan and Phaltan Assembly segments from Satara district; Madha, Sangola and Malshiras Assembly constituencies from Solapur district and Karmala Assembly segment from the neighbouring Osmanabad district.