Lok Sabha elections 2024: Divided Sena candidates lock horns for Yavatmal-Washim

In the YavatmalWashim battle for the Lok Sabha seat itrsquos Shiv Sena vs Shiv Sena Itrsquos a showdown between Shiv Sena UBT and Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde as both factions trade barbs hurling accusations of being fake and traitorous at each other The battleground is ablaze across every corner of the constituency as political titans Sena UBTrsquos Sanjayrao Deshmukh and the Shinde factionrsquos Rajshri Patil lock hornsAfter delimitation parts of erstwhile Yavatmal and Washim constituencies were merged to create a new YavatmalWashim segment The Lok Sabha constituency was established in 2009 The region is characterised by its agricultural prowess ancient temples bustling tourist spots commercial hubs and industrial zones Several historic forts dot the landscape serving as focal points for tourism Additionally lush forests envelop certain areas adding to the regions natural allureIn the political landscape Shiv Sena clinched victory in the inaugural elections of 2009 with Bhavna Gawli assuming the mantle of MP Gawli remained at the helm until this year when she was replaced due to opposition from the BJP and prevailing antiincumbency sentiments Both the Yavatmal and Washim Lok Sabha seats were once strongholds of the Congress party Historically the Yavatmal seat was firmly held by Congress candidates from 1951 to 1991 Although the BJP secured victory in 1996 it lost the seat in 1998 However in 2004 the BJP reclaimed the Yavatmal seatThe Washim Lok Sabha seat was established in 1977 and since its inception it was predominantly won by Congress Notably Ghulam Nabi Azadmdasha Kashmiri Muslim and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmirmdashwon twice from the Washim constituency In the 1980 elections he secured victory with a substantial margin of 151378 votes Azad was reelected from Washim in the 1989 elections Until 1991 Congress retained control of this seat However Shiv Sena emerged victorious in 1996 followed by Congress in 1998 Shiv Sena regained the seat in 1999 and 2004 Currently the YavatmalWashim constituency has evolved into a Shiv Sena bastion However in the current election cycle the battle is unfolding between candidates from the divided factions of the Shiv SenaRecapIn the 2014 Lok Sabha elections Shiv Sena fielded Bhavna Gawli from here On the other hand Congress had given a ticket to Shivajirao Moghe In the elections Bhavna had secured around 55 lakh votes while the Congress candidate got 384089 votes facing a defeat by around 93000 votes In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections Shiv Senas Gawli won this seat with 542098 votes Manikrao Thackeray of Congress stood second with 424159 votes In the 2014 elections Gawli won with 477905 votes Moghe of Congress stood second with 384089 votesIski topihellip uske sarThe Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde has nominated Rajashree Patilmdashwife of Hingoli MP Hemant Patilmdashas its candidate for the YavatmalWashim Lok Sabha constituency in eastern Maharashtra replacing the partys sitting MP Bhavana GawliIn Hingolimdashlocated in central Maharashtramdashthe party opted to replace sitting MP Hemant Patil with Baburao KadamKohlikar Initially the party had announced Patils candidature in its first list but later withdrew it following opposition from the local unit of its ally BJP Kohlikar serves as the Hingoli district unit president of the Shiv SenaDespite the replacement Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured that Gawli has not been abandoned and pledged to stand by her like a brother According to sources Gawali went incognito for the senior party leadership for a few days after the nominations were filed While she was seen interacting with the media and other local activists she reportedly kept away from the senior party leadership However after persuasion Gawli agreed last week to set aside differences and campaign for Rajashree Patilmdashthe official candidate chosen by Mahayuti for the constituencyGawli emphasised ldquoI am not one to sit over this or badmouth I am a leader of the Shiv Sena and I will certainly work for the party and the official candidate fielded by Mahayuti Moreover I have been elected to Parliament not once or twice but five times by the people of this constituencyrdquoIn June 2022 Gawli was among the 13 MPs who switched from the Shiv Sena UBT led by Uddhav Thackeray to the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde Highlighting her longstanding association with the constituents she added ldquoI have represented this constituency for the past 25 years My connection with the people extends beyond politicshellip I will continue to work for the constituency and its people I have given my word to the party chief and I will offer my full supportrdquoA party worker in Yavatmal remarked ldquoThe decision to drop Bhavnatai was solely due to pressure from the BJP It is regrettable but the party leadership had to negotiate based on the seatsharing process Rajshritai is not originally from Yavatmal Even though she claims her ancestral roots are here how many people actually know her She lacks a substantial track record in this areardquoIn response Rajshri Patil said ldquoI grew up here received my early education here and have been involved in numerous social and philanthropic activities People are discerning they are aware of these facts I am not an outsider despite the false allegations being spread against me I do not need to prove my connection to this placerdquo2009Year YavatmalWashim constituency was formed