Mumbai: If you look at the current picture of the Maharashtra assembly polls, it is clear that most political leaders are putting their family interests above loyalty, service and ideology.
Political parties often throw mud at each other over nepotism but when assembly elections arrive, relatives of prominent leaders are preferred for nominations. In the current Maharashtra election, sons and daughters of many veteran leaders of Maharashtra are trying their luck. Voting will be held on November 20.
Against this backdrop, take a look at how both the sons of former Maharashtra Chief Narayan Rane are contesting the polls. Nitesh Rane is contesting on a BJP ticket, while his brother Nilesh is contesting as a candidate of Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Aaditya Thackeray and Amit Thackeray have also entered politics to maintain the dominance of the Thackeray family. Aaditya and Amit, grandsons of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, a staunch Hindu politician, are contesting elections from two different constituencies in Mumbai.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's son and former Maharashtra minister Aditya Thackeray is contesting from Worli seat on a Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket, while Amit Thackeray, son of MNS supremo Raj Thackeray, is contesting from Mahim assembly constituency.
In 2019, Aaditya Thackeray was the first member of the influential Thackeray family in Maharashtra to be elected directly from the public. Till then neither his father Uddhav Thackeray nor his uncle Raj Thackeray had ever contested an election. But after becoming the Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray contested the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections.
Now Raj Thackeray has fielded his son Amit Thackeray from Mahim. Amit Thackeray is contesting the polls on a MNS ticket.
Aaditya will be challenged by Milind Deora of Shiv Sena. Milind Deora, a Rajya Sabha MP, is the son of former Union Minister and Congress stalwart late Murli Deora. Sandeep Deshpande of MNS is also in the fray from the Worli seat.
Varun Sardesai, a relative of Aaditya Thackeray, is also contesting from Bandra East seat on behalf of Shiv Sena (UBT). Varun Sardesai is the son of Aaditya Thackeray's maternal aunt. Varun Sardesai, 31, is an engineer by profession and is an officer bearer of the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the party. He is being challenged by Zeeshan Siddique, son of late Baba Siddique.
Like the Thackeray family, the Pawar family is also facing new challenges due to internal strife. Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar divided the NCP into two parts.
Now Sharad Pawar has fielded Yugendra Pawar against Ajit Pawar in the Baramati assembly constituency. Ajit Pawar's challenger Yugendra Pawar is Srinivas Pawar's son and is contesting against his uncle.
Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar contested the elections from the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency against Supriya Sule. After losing to Supriya Sule, Sunetra Pawar became Rajya Sabha MP. Sharad Pawar's NCP has decided to replace former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh with his son Salil Deshmukh from the Katol assembly constituency.
Srijaya Chavan, daughter of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, has been fielded from the Bhokar constituency in Nanded.
In Mumbai, BJP leader Ashish Shelar is contesting from the Bandra West constituency while his brother Vinod Shelar is contesting from the Malad West Constituency. Vinod Shelar is pitted against Congress's Aslam Shaikh in this Muslim-majority constituency.
Congress is also strong in the Nilanga constituency in the Latur district. Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar was elected on a Congress ticket but his grandson Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar is contesting from here on a BJP ticket. Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar will take on Abhay Kumar Satishrao Salunkhe of Congress.
Nitesh Rane and Nilesh Rane are trying their luck from the Kankavali and Kudal constituencies respectively in coastal Konkan. Pratibha Pachpute, the wife of BJP leader Babanrao Pachpute, is contesting on a BJP ticket from the Shrigonda constituency in Ahilyanagar district.
Also, Sulabha Gaikwad, wife of Ganpat Gaikwad, is in the fray from Kalyan East Constituency. Rajan Salvi is contesting from Shiv Sena (UBT) from the Rajapur constituency in Konkan, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra minister Uday Samant's brother Kiran Samant will challenge Salvi.
Sunil Raut, brother of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut is contesting from the Vikhroli constituency. From Tasgaon Kavathe Mahakal Constituency in Sangli district, the late NCP leader RR Patil's son Rohit Patil is contesting the polls.
From the Karjat Jamkhed Constituency, Sharad Pawar's grandson Rohit Pawar has been fielded by the NCP (SP).
BJP leader Gopinath Munde's nephew Dhananjay Munde has been nominated by NCP from the Parli constituency in Beed district. Bhagyashree Atram, daughter of Dharmarao Baba Atram, has been nominated by NCP (SP) from the Aheri constituency in Gadchiroli district.
Congress MP Varsha Gaekwad's sister Jyoti Gaekwad is contesting from the Dharavi seat in central Mumbai, while late former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's sons Amit Deshmukh and Dheeraj Deshmukh are in the fray from Latur city and Latur rural constituencies respectively.
Sunil Deshmukh, son of Punjabrao Deshmukh, has been fielded by the Congress from Amravati constituency. Former Maharashtra Minister Sunil Kedar's wife Anuja Kedar is contesting from the Savner constituency.
Ganesh Naik is contesting on a BJP ticket from Navi Mumbai constituency, while Sandeep Naik is trying his luck from NCP (SP) from Belapur constituency.
