Prithviraj Chavan’s Empowerment and Employment Initiative in Rural Maharashtra |

Karad, Satara: Life goes on in Patan Colony in the heart of Karad town. Women are busy with their morning chores. Nothing strange attracts the attention of strangers. Still, it is a well-known place in the town. This is the home of former chief minister and incumbent MLA Prithviraj Chavan from South Karad. The mood inside the house is relaxed and normal. There is no rush or gathering of party workers.
It is 10 in the morning. A group of women wearing Congress Party scarves are having breakfast in the living room at the back entrance of the two-storey house. Everyone is talking about the daily campaign plan.
Young fans, mostly wearing casual clothes, are glued to their mobile phones, talking about some random stuff on social media. There is no politics. Reels, likes and number of followers are the most frequently used words.
A close party worker ‘Bhau’, dressed in white trousers and shirt, frequently looks at his wristwatch. “Sakali ek senior sampadak aale hote. Tyani don taas gappa marlya. Tyamule ushir zala aahe. (A senior editor had two two-hour meetings with ‘Baba’. So we are running late now),” Bhau says in his daily schedule.
A group of party workers come to the house with a bouquet in their hands. After waiting for a few minutes, Prithviraj Chavan in a black jacket and sports slippers meets them and briefly discusses their problems. Selfies clicked.
Later, Prithviraj, affectionately known as ‘Baba’ among the locals, briefly discusses the day’s plan with ‘Bhau’ and gets into a white SUV. He tells one of his workers to bring his iPad from home before heading to a remote area of ​​Karad, a stronghold of the Chavan family and the Congress since 1957.
Prithviraj’s father Dajisaheb Chavan represented the erstwhile Karad Lok Sabha constituency for 16 consecutive years. Later, his mother Premala was elected unopposed to the Lok Sabha by bypoll following her husband’s death in 1973. He then won the constituency for the next three terms. He retired from politics in 1991 after Rajiv Gandhi asked Prithviraj to run for Karad. Pritviraj won the parliamentary elections in his first attempt and his political career took off.
Unlike other politicians in western Maharashtra, the Chavan family does not have a cooperative sugar mill, pathsanstha, educational institution or any other cooperative organization that helps build a voter base.
While passing through heavy traffic, Prithviraj tells TOI about the history and current politics of the town. Asked whether it would be child’s play this time, he replied: “Not at all. But I have a strong chance. Uday Patil-Undalkar, who received 35,000 votes as the rebel candidate last time, is also on my side. That’s why I have a good chance. He has an advantage.” ”
Last time, there was a three-way fight between Prithviraj, his rival Atul Bhosale (BJP) and Congress rebel Uday for the Karad South assembly constituency. Uday’s father, late Vilas Patil Undalkar, represented the assembly segment for 35 consecutive years. After Undalkar’s death in 2021, Prithviraj and Uday settled their differences.
“We are together now. I told him that he will get his ‘luck’ at the appropriate time. Hence, I have a direct quarrel with Bhosale, who owns the medical college empire and other businesses in Karad,” says Prithviraj. third period.
A small cavalcade is heading towards the west side of the city. Later, a group of party workers join the team. During a journey of around 15 km, Prithviraj explains the importance of places and schools before stopping near the Ganesh temple for darshan. “Ha navsacha Ganpati aahe. Baba ikde nehmi yetat (It is a Ganpati temple where the wishes of devotees are fulfilled),” says a party worker standing on the steps of the temple.
Some party workers join the cavalcade from the temple and head towards Vanarwadi, the last village in the segment. The vehicles turn onto a narrow, half-tarred road and after a half-hour drive, they reach a small square outside the Naikbaba temple.
Amid the fireworks, a group of women in their 70s welcome Prithviraj with an aarti. He walks with the villagers down an extremely narrow lane leading to the old sarpan’s house. When the father enters, he cannot stand comfortably because the ceiling is short. Someone turns off the ceiling fan to prevent accidental touching.
Prithviraj sits on a plastic chair in the cramped space surrounded by 30 people. It explains the development agenda proposed by Maha Vikas Aghadi in its manifesto. “Ladki Bahin Yojna bandh honar nahi. Tumahala jasta paise milanar aahe. Amhi Rs 3,000 dinar aahe (we will give Rs 3,000 per month. Ladki Bahin scheme will not stop after MVA forms government).”
“Baba amahala paise nako (‘Father’ we don’t want money), amhala kaam dya (give us work),” says a female worker.
A villager laments unemployment and accuses politicians of doing too little to create jobs. “About 90% padun pan pora ghari aahet. Hushar asun kay upyog (They cannot find employment even after scoring 90% in Classes X and XII).”
Another villager says, “Almost 90% of the youth have migrated to Mumbai, Pune and other towns for work. They come home only for some festivals. So you will only find senior citizens and those engaged in farming.” Accordingly, Prithviraj says that once he (MVA) gets elected, they will create opportunities.
People point out how the work of a small dam should be completed soon to solve farming problems. Says Prithviraj: “About 80% of the work is done. It just needs permission from the forest department. I will get it in the next six months. The village will get adequate water. Around 10 neighboring villages will also get water for their farms. So don’t worry about frost.”
Outside the house, local resident Ravindra Todkar says ‘Baba’ was a highly educated, humble and non-corrupt politician in the state. “When he was the Prime Minister, we could easily meet at his house in Karad. Which CM meets with the villagers? He built roads and solved our water problem. We are happy to see him among us again.”
After about 45 minutes of meeting, Prithviraj leaves the house, waving to the elderly. Before reaching his vehicle, he stops by the house of the first sarpan, who is over 90 years old, and shakes hands with the bedridden man.
“Don’t worry, I will be there to solve all your problems. Panjala matdan kara (vote),” he says, before heading to Kumbhargaon, another remote village where his ancestors live.