Maharashtra Assembly Election: Second Setback For Congress In Kolhapur As Candidate Withdraws Amidst Internal Conflict
Maharashtra Assembly Election: Second Setback For Congress In Kolhapur As Candidate Withdraws Amidst Internal Conflict
In another significant setback for the Congress in Kolhapur, the party’s newly chosen candidate from Kolhapur North, Madhurima Raje Chhatrapati, withdrew her nomination on Monday. This development marks the second blow for the Congress in the region, following last week’s defection of sitting MLA Jayashree Jadhav to the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction). Jadhav had joined Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s camp in Mumbai after the Congress declined to renominate her.
The internal turmoil stemmed from a last-minute switch in candidates by the Congress, which replaced its initial candidate, former corporator Rajesh Latkar, with Madhurima Raje. This abrupt change sparked outrage among Latkar’s supporters, who reacted by vandalizing a Congress office in Kolhapur. With Madhurima Raje’s withdrawal, the main contest in Kolhapur North now appears to be between Latkar, who is running as an independent, and Rajesh Kshirsagar, the candidate fielded by the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction).
In response, Congress state unit chief Nana Patole announced that the party would throw its support behind Latkar. “We will back Latkar against Mahayuti candidate Rajesh Kshirsagar,” Patole declared, signaling the party’s decision to return to its original candidate following Madhurima Raje’s exit.
Following her withdrawal, Congress leader Satej Patil expressed frustration. In a video that has since gone viral, an agitated Patil said, “If you didn’t have the courage to contest, you shouldn’t have entered the race. I would have shown my power.”
Patil later addressed Congress workers, explaining the chain of events leading up to Raje’s withdrawal. He recounted receiving a call at 2:30 p.m. from Malojiraje, Madhurima Raje’s husband, who informed him of her decision to step down. Patil tried to dissuade her but ultimately found himself caught off guard by the sudden decision and its fallout. “I went to the collector’s office to try and intervene, but events escalated rapidly,” Patil explained.
According to Shahu Maharaj, Madhurima Raje withdrew amid growing tension over Latkar’s removal. “Madhurima Raje had to step down reluctantly as we could not persuade Latkar to withdraw his independent candidacy,” Shahu Maharaj explained, highlighting Latkar’s status as a “dedicated activist.”
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has managed to resolve its internal challenges more smoothly. Former Mumbai North MP Gopal Shetty, who had filed as an independent after being denied a party ticket, ultimately withdrew in favor of BJP candidate Sanjay Upadhyay. Shetty, who previously voiced concerns over “outsiders” being prioritized over local leaders, expressed relief and announced his support for Upadhyay, stabilizing BJP’s Borivali constituency campaign.
