Mumbai: In the second phase of Lok Sabha (LS) polls in Marathwada and parts of Western Maharashtra, Solapur is the high-stake battle as former union minister Sushilkumar Shinde is pitted against Lingayat spiritual leader Dr Jai Saiddheshwar Shivacharya Swami of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar. Ambedkar’s entry into the fray is considered to be a major spoiler for Shinde, who has the uphill task of wresting the seat from BJP’s Sharad Bansode who despite being politically very junior defeated him in the 2014 LS polls. Solapur goes to polls on April 18.
The BJP is counting on the spiritual leader to secure the nearly 3 lakh Lingayat community votes in the constituency, primarily in Akkalkot, Mangalwedha and the southern parts of Solapur district. The Telugu-speaking Padmashali caste is another community whose votes the BJP is banking on. However, political analysts and journalists in Solapur claim that it is not certain that the entire Lingayat community would vote for Swami. “Solapur is a district of maths and religious institutions. In Akkalkot alone, there are 110 mathas. But today, this floating vote of the Lingayat community does not wholly belong to the BJP as a section of the community is upset with the party,” said a local political analyst.
Furthermore, Shinde has managed to secure the support of the influential Hotgi Math, thus splitting the Lingayat vote. While Shinde has the support of a substantial section of the Dhangar and the Maratha communities, he faces a serious challenge from Ambedkar. “Shinde was ahead in this race till Ambedkar announced his entry. Ambedkar is certain to secure a large number of Other Backward Castes (OBCs) votes, which otherwise traditionally go to Congress,” said the analyst.
VBA has an alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM). However, according to political observers, Muslims will not go with Ambedkar as VBA has not been given the ticket to a Muslim candidate and may remain with the Congress. This might be the last election for Shinde, and this has an emotional appeal that may help him in the election.
