Vote split threatens Sharad Pawar

MAHARASHTRA's first CM Yashwantrao Chavan was known as 'Saheb', and his birthplace Karad and district Satara always stood with him. His legacy is carried forward by another 'Saheb' - Sharad Pawar.

- SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI

In the assembly polls, the ruling Maha Yuti has emerged as a major challenge before Pawar following a division in the NCP - one led by the 84-year-old patriarch and another by his nephew Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

The junior Pawar could be facing an uphill task at his home turf Baramati, yet his candidates are giving a tough time to Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).

In Satara district, the Karad South seat has thrown up an interesting contest. Two "Babas" - one is former CM and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan while the other is BJP's Atul Bhosale. Both are popularly called 'Baba'.

Sanjay Mohite, a farmer, credits Atul Bhosale with a lot of development and infrastructure work during the Covid-19 pandemic. "Most youths are rallied behind him. He has fair chances of winning the seat and becoming the first non-Congress MLA," he said.