In Maharashtra, the old political tradition of unopposed election in by-elections on seats vacant after the demise of late MLAs is now losing its relevance. Electoral compulsions are increasingly dominating emotions and heritage. Due to this, intense competition is increasing among political parties. An analysis of by-election trends over the past decade shows that elections have been held on more than three-fourths of such vacancies. This reflects the tough competition between parties in a politically fragmented landscape.
Traditionally, political parties in Maharashtra avoided fielding candidates against family members of deceased MLAs. It was considered a symbol of respect. This gave him a smooth entry into electoral politics. However, this tradition, once considered part of the state’s political culture, is now becoming the exception rather than the rule.
Priority to increase electoral mathematics and organizational strength
Data shows that since 2014, more than fifteen by-elections to both the Assembly and the Lok Sabha in Maharashtra have been held due to the demise of sitting members. Only a few of these remained unopposed. This underlines the declining relevance of the informal no contest understanding. Political observers have attributed this change to the increasing share in legislative numbers and the delicate nature of coalition politics in Maharashtra.
He says each seat potentially affects the stability of the government. Therefore, parties are no longer ready to give up electoral ground even in sensitive circumstances. In assembly constituencies like Kolhapur North, Pandharpur and Bandra East, parties violated the tradition of not fielding candidates. He gave priority to electoral mathematics and organizational strength. This led to a full voting exercise. Bhokar Assembly constituencies in Nanded district in 2024, Deglur and Pandharpur (2021), and Bandra East (2015) also saw full-scale electoral battles due to lack of political interests or consensus.
changing form of tradition
This tradition now survives only in exceptional cases. Generally it includes leaders who have goodwill among various parties. Or where contesting elections may invite public outrage. The upcoming Baramati Assembly by-election, necessitated by the demise of then Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party stalwart Ajit Pawar, has emerged as a rare example. Here the Old Testament briefly reemerges.
The contest on this seat seemed imminent. But this could not happen after Congress withdrew its candidate at the last moment. Ajit Pawar’s wife, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, is the main contender for the seat. However, some independent candidates are still in the fray in the by-election to be held on April 23. This development is an indication that this tradition can survive only under certain special circumstances. Political observers said that as Maharashtra’s political landscape has evolved, the balance between tradition and strategic necessity has tilted strongly towards the latter. This signals a definite change in the conduct of by-elections in the state.
Examples of intense competition
In contrast, many recent by-elections have seen intense electoral battles. The Kasba Peth by-election in 2023, which followed the demise of Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Girish Bapat, became a high-stakes contest. As a result, Ravindra Dhangekar, who contested the election on Congress ticket, won. Similarly, Chinchwad by-election saw a multi-cornered contest despite the Bharatiya Janata Party fielding a family member of the late MLA. Bharatiya Janata Party had fielded Ashwini Jagtap, widow of Laxman Jagtap. Nationalist Congress Party (Undivided) also contested the election. However, its candidate Vitthal alias Nana Krishnaji Kate lost the election.
In 2022, there was an intense fight between Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party in Kolhapur North. In 2021, there was also a contest on Deglur seat. Where the son of late Congress MLA Raosaheb Antapurkar retained the seat by defeating his Bharatiya Janata Party rival. In the 2021 Pandharpur Assembly by-election, the Bharatiya Janata Party wrested this seat from the Nationalist Congress Party (Undivided). In the 2015 Bandra (East) seat by-election, Congress leader Narayan Rane had lost to Trupti Sawant, wife of late MLA Prakash Sawant (Shiv Sena).
Rare cases of unopposed victory
However, such harmonies are now becoming rare. In the 2022 by-election, Rutuja Latke (Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) won the Andheri East seat unopposed. This happened after the Bharatiya Janata Party withdrew its candidate Murji Patel after a public appeal to respect the tradition. In 2018, Vishwajit Kadam of Congress won the Palus-Kadegaon seat. This became possible when the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate withdrew his name out of respect for late Patangrao Kadam of the Congress.
After the demise of former state home minister and Nationalist Congress Party (Undivided) leader R R Patil, his wife Suman Patil easily won the Tasgaon seat. This happened because no major party had fielded a candidate against him. In 2014, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Pritam Munde won easily. The Nationalist Congress Party had not fielded any candidate against him after the death of his father and MP Gopinath Munde from Beed. These are some of the examples where political parties did not field candidates or withdrew their candidates out of respect for the late leader.
due to changing trends
Political observers attribute this change to the increasing share in legislative numbers and the delicate nature of coalition politics in Maharashtra. He says each seat potentially affects the stability of the government. Therefore, parties are no longer ready to give up electoral ground even in sensitive circumstances.
Congress leader Ratnakar Mahajan said, emotions have taken priority over political thinking in the contemporary era.
Senior journalist Prakash Akolkar said, the trend of fielding family members of deceased MLAs is aimed at serving political interests rather than respecting the legacy. He also raised the question as to why there is no talk of an unopposed election despite the by-election in Rahuri being held due to the death of a sitting member.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Keshav Upadhyay said the demand for an unopposed by-election stemmed from public sentiments attached to a popular leader who represented them till his death.