Karad, Haibat Adke
The political temperature in Karad has shot through the roof. Barely days after the assembly election victory gave the BJP a massive boost, the party is now fighting with its back to the wall in the municipal battlefield as its opponents have stitched together a formidable new alliance.
The Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), Yashwant Vikas Aghadi and Lokshahi Aghadi have joined hands and are mounting a serious challenge to the BJP. The Congress too has jumped into the fray on its own strength, fielding a candidate for the municipal president’s post and contesting 15 wards. However, the party has signalled that in wards where it has no candidate, it will extend support to “like-minded” fronts”, keeping the door open for a possible post-nomination withdrawal shift from a three-cornered to a straight fight.
After many years, the municipal president’s post in Karad has been thrown open to the general category, triggering unprecedented interest. Initially, 22 aspirants filed nominations for the top post; 11 were rejected. Of the 330 nominations for councillor seats, 68 were invalidated, leaving 11 candidates in the race for president and 262 for councillor posts. With the last date for withdrawal of nominations approaching, frantic backroom parleys are on across camps. Independent candidates are being persuaded, cajoled and pressurised to pull out to prevent vote-splitting.
Mahayuti in Disarray...
Despite being in power at the state level, the Mahayuti alliance has completely failed to come together in Karad. Efforts by Guardian Minister Shambhuraj Desai and BJP district president and Karad South MLA Dr Atul Bhosle to bring the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar) on one platform have drawn a blank. Sources in the alliance admit that while attempts were made, the expected cooperation never materialised. The bitter truth is that the Mahayuti constituents have chosen to go their separate ways in Karad, leaving the BJP to fight alone.
Opposition’s New Equation....
The Lokshahi Aghadi and Yashwant Vikas Aghadi have finalised former deputy municipal president Rajendrasingh Yadav as their joint candidate for the president’s post and have also sorted out seat-sharing. This united front is now poised to give the BJP a stiff fight.
BJP Plays the Hindutva Card Again...
This election is a prestige battle for Karad South MLA and district BJP chief Dr Atul Bhosle — the first major electoral test after his assembly win. Despite several heavyweights from Congress, Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) joining the BJP in recent months, the party has reposed faith in hardcore Hindutva face and senior councillor Vinayak Pawaskar for the open-category presidential post.
The strategy is clear: repeat the Hindutva plank that delivered the municipality to the BJP last time. Pawaskar’s organisational muscle through Hindu Ekta Manch, the mammoth Shiv Jayanti celebrations he spearheads (the largest in Maharashtra), and the promise of central and state funds have buoyed the saffron camp’s confidence.
Congress Goes Solo — For Now...
The Congress has fielded a fresh and widely acceptable face — minority cell district president Zakir Pathan — for the president’s post and is contesting 15 councillor seats. Though many of its candidates are newcomers, Pathan enjoys goodwill across both Hindu and Muslim communities. Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has announced he will campaign, but only in wards where Congress candidates are contesting on the party symbol. In other wards, he has left the decision to support “friendly” candidates to the local unit — a clear hint that a post-withdrawal understanding with the anti-BJP front remains possible.
The Three Main Contenders – Strengths & Weaknesses...
1. Rajendrasingh Yadav (Lokshahi + Yashwant Aghadi) :
Strengths : Five-time councillor, former deputy president, proven fund-mobilisation record, strong cadre base, massive personal network.
Weaknesses : Seen as an “old face”; limited appeal among younger voters; some internal discontent in certain wards.
2. Vinayak Pawaskar (BJP) :
Strengths: Aggressive Hindutva image, solid Hindu organisational backing, long civic experience, direct access to central/state funds, emotional connect via Karad’s iconic Shiv Jayanti.
Weaknesses: Over-reliance on Hindutva may alienate minority and neutral voters.
3. Zakir Pathan (Congress)
Strengths : Acceptable to both Hindu and Muslim communities, grassroots worker, strong social work credentials, solid Muslim vote bank.
Weaknesses : Limited organisational machinery in the city, many novice candidates, first direct shot at the top post.
The real picture will emerge only after the withdrawal deadline. How many independents pull out, whether the Congress ultimately merges with the anti-BJP front or stays solo, and whether the remaining Mahayuti partners quietly help the BJP will decide whether the contest remains triangular or turns into a direct BJP vs United Opposition battle.
For now, Karad is on the edge — and the next few days will decide who captures the civic throne.
