Pune: Party Hopping, Local Grievances, and Internal Opposition: Harshavardhan Patil Faces Uphill Battle in Indapur

Pune:

With Pravin Mane, the owner of Sonai Dairy, rebelling and announcing his candidacy for the Indapur Assembly seat, the constituency is set for a three-way electoral battle. Mane’s entry into the election has stirred speculation about vote division among key candidates, a development that political analysts say could spell trouble for Harshavardhan Patil’s chances.

Apart from these, there are multiple other reasons that could possibly hinder the chance of Harshavardhan Patil’s success in this election. They are as follows:

Patil’s Declining Hold on Indapur

After being out of power for a decade, former minister Harshavardhan Patil’s influence over Indapur is said to have diminished. Several of Patil’s former supporters have switched allegiances, and reports indicate a reduced level of engagement with constituents. Consequently, Patil’s sway in the area has notably waned compared to his position before 2014.

Low Sugarcane Prices and Worker Payment Issues

Patil also faces mounting criticism over the low prices paid to sugarcane farmers and irregular worker salaries at the Karmayogi and Nira Bhima Cooperative Sugar Factories, both crucial sugarcane factories in the taluka. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took a dig at Patil on these issues yesterday while supporting NCP candidate Dattatray Bharne’s nomination in Indapur, highlighting the sugarcane pricing issue as a weak spot for Patil.

Frequent Party Shifts Raise Credibility Concerns

Harshavardhan Patil’s frequent party changes have also raised questions about his credibility. Previously, Patil served as an independent candidate for Indapur before joining the Congress in 2009. After failing to secure a ticket, he switched to the BJP ahead of the 2019 assembly elections. This year, he joined the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). Many locals feel that Patil’s frequent shifts have eroded trust among his supporters.

Internal Opposition Within NCP (SP)

Patil’s entry into the NCP (SP) under the endorsement of Sharad Pawar has also sparked resistance within the party. Key leaders of the party, including Sonai Dairy’s Pravin Mane, District Bank Director Appasaheb Jagdale, and Vice President of Karmayogi Sugar Factory Bharat Shah, have openly opposed his induction into the party, citing dissatisfaction with Patil’s political record.

Patil will need to overcome these significant challenges if he hopes to secure the Indapur assembly seat in the upcoming election.