Buldhana’s Bumpy Battleground

Buldhana, known as the gateway of the Vidarbha region, has long been a political stronghold of the undivided Shiv Sena. At the time of its firebrand Bal Thackeray, the Sena’s brand of hard-hitting politics had attracted the Bahujan and OBC youth in this part of western Vidarbha, displacing the Congress party from its once-immovable position. The district’s politics have never been kind to women candidates – that is, until now.

This year, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is rewriting the district’s political playbook. For the first time, the Sena (UBT) is fielding a woman candidate for the Buldhana Assembly seat: Jayashree Shelke, a former Congress leader and now the MVA (Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi)’s nominee. Shelke’s candidacy is both a symbolic break from tradition and a practical manoeuvre. If she succeeds, she could become Buldhana’s first-ever female MLA, marking a historic shift in the district’s political landscape.

But Shelke’s path is steeped in challenges. She faces stiff competition from Sanjay Gaikwad of the rival Shiv Sena faction, led by Eknath Shinde. Gaikwad, a prominent local figure, embodies the combative style of Shiv Sena politics, which has often resonated with voters in Buldhana. His track record of controversial statements plays well with the district’s electorate, who are accustomed to the abrasive politics that used to be synonymous with the undivided Shiv Sena.

Buldhana is a microcosm of the larger political flux sweeping Maharashtra. The district is steeped in historical significance, being the birthplace of Rajmata Jijau, mother of the Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It is also known for its deep connection to saintly traditions and has seven assembly constituencies, including key battlegrounds like Khamgaon and Sindkhed Raja. In 2019, the district saw a split allegiance, with three BJP MLAs, two Shiv Sena, one Congress, and one NCP representative securing seats.

This year, however, the political stakes in Buldhana are higher than ever. The Thackeray faction’s decision to back Shelke is a calculated move to regain lost ground among disillusioned Congress supporters. Shelke’s candidacy is seen as a strategic ‘swap’ after the Sena (UBT) had helped Congress win a Legislative Council seat in the past.

Meanwhile, in Khamgaon, another key constituency in the region, the political landscape is equally charged. Known as Vidarbha’s ‘hot city’, Khamgaon has been the site of fierce rivalries, notably between the BJP and Congress. Here, the ideological battle between Hindutva and Congress’s so-called secularism is playing out in full force. In the past, the BJP’s Bhausaheb Fundkar, an influential local figure, had secured a major victory in 2014, defeating Congress’s Dilip Sananda, a traditional powerbroker in the region. Sananda’s return to the fray this year, after a five-year hiatus, has reignited old rivalries.

Fundkar, now represented by his son Akash, is riding on the BJP’s solid support base among Marathas, OBCs and Hindutva voters. His focus on rural development and the BJP’s united front gives him a significant advantage. In contrast, Sananda’s candidacy risks being undermined by the factionalism within Congress. His campaign is seen as self-serving, and with the rise of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and other smaller parties, the secular vote could fragment, benefiting the BJP.

In both constituencies, the contest is not just about votes but about legacy and identity.