Kannad arena: Rebel sons-in-law of BJP leaders throw hats in the ring

AURANGABAD: Former Kannad MLA Harshwardhan Jadhav, son-in-law of Union BJP minister Raosaheb Danve, has already unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha

election

against BJP ally Shiv Sena from Aurangabad seat, and now BJP leader Babanrao Lonikar is experiencing the same thing.


Lonikar’s son in-law, Kishor Pawar, who belonged to the local BJP camp, has filed his nomination as an independent for the Assembly election from Kannad.

Pawar, who is a Zilla Parishad member, was hopeful of contesting the election amid strained relations between BJP and Sena before both the parties forged an alliance.

Sena has nominated Udaysinh Rajput, who joined the saffron fold ahead of the election by ditching the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), whereas the Sharad Pawar-led party has given a ticket to Santosh Kolhe.

The sons in-law of two senior BJP leaders getting into the poll fray along with Sena candidate have produced an interesting triangular fight from the Kannad assembly constituency.

Jadhav, a two-time MLA, is a comparatively more experienced politician than Pawar, who is in fray for the first time. Pawar too enjoys rich political legacy along with the prestige being associated with the son-in-law of senior BJP leaders. His father, the late Narayanrao Pawar, was the chairman of a local cooperative society and had considerable clout over the local political circle.

“In the traditional Indian family system, sons-in-law always tend to have the upper hand in every matter and a similar situation prevails in the political arena too. Pawar is an emerging leader in the area and decided to establish himself by contesting the Assembly polls. His relationship with the senior BJP leader could not prevent him from contesting as an independent in the emerging political equations,” a senior BJP leader said.

Jadhav, who enjoyed the first term as an MLA on an MNS ticket and later as Sena candidate, had won the 2014 assembly election against Rajput, who was in the NCP then.

While a wafer-thin winning margin of over 1,400 votes during the last poll was a worry for Jadhav, the MIM declaring its support to him could boost the morale of party workers concerned.

Maroti Rathod is also in the poll fray from Kannad as Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi candidate, but the poll battle is revolving around the two “high profile” sons-in-law from the constituency.

“Pawar’s poll prospects would have been bright had he received an official nomination from either Sena or BJP. On the other hand, Jadhav’s chances depend on the voting pattern and division of votes. In all, Kannad is witnessing an interesting poll battle in Aurangabad district,” said Pavez Khan, a voter.


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