MUMBAI
Ashok Chavan is seeking re-election to the Legislative Assembly from Bhokar Assembly constituency, which was represented by his father, late CM Shankarrao Chavan.
Bhokar Assembly constituency, situated in Nanded district, was represented by late chief minister Shankarrao Chavan and now 30 years later his son and incumbent chief minister Ashok Chavan is seeking re-election to the Legislative Assembly from this constituency.
Post delimitation, junior Chavan's constituency Mudkhed has been merged with Bhokar and the recarved constituency comprises the tehsils of Mudkhed, Ardhapur and Bhokar.
The old Bhokar constituency's Naigaum, Umri and Dharmabad tehsils have been included in the new Assembly constituency of Naigaum.
Situated about 45km from Nanded town, hokar has a voter population of over 2.19lakh.
Majority of population is Maratha and Muslim community. An agrarian society, the major crop is sugarcane and banana plantation.
Ashok Chavan told PTI that the constituency has changed slightly geographically after delimitation with the inclusion of his previous Mudkhed and Ardhapur tehsils to the Bhokar tehsil.
"I sanctioned a sub-divisional office for Bhokar and even upgraded it to Municipality status two years ago. In Mudkhed and Ardhapur, irrigation facilities, infrastructure
has been upgraded," Chavan said. Chavan said his father represented the constituency as
chief minister and after 30 years he too was seeking re-election as chief minister.
"History is repeating itself and my father would have been happy to see me filing nomination from a constituency nursed by him for three terms," he said.
SB Chavan was the chief minister from 1975-77 and he represented Bhokar for three terms before contesting the Parliamentary elections from Nanded.
The chief minister's main rival Dr Madhavrao Kinhalkar is contesting as an independent while Shiv Sena has fielded Bhimrao Kshirsagar.
Kinhalkar, who was elected from Bhokar in 1990 and 1995, served as minister of state for home, revenue in the Sharad Pawar government. He joined the NCP in 1999 but quit
the party soon. He said that he began his campaign last month and has received overwhelming response.
Kinhalkar, a doctor by profession, plans to cash on the anti-incumbuncy factor against the congress-NCP.
"Ashok Chavan has hardly visited the constituency during his entire term. Besides, there has been no credible opposition in the constituency. Insignificant candidates have been put up against him in the last election which facilitated his win," Kinhalkar said. The chief minister has seen electoral success only because of his father's background and the voters never had a alternate choice, Kinhalkar alleged.
Kinhalkar said he was not new to the constituency. "I have won twice from here and it is for the sixth time that I am contesting the assembly elections," he said. He lamented that development always takes a backseat in rural areas where caste equations and other
irrelevant issues dominate.
"Bhokar has inadequate irrigation potential," he said.
As the Congress-NCP vie for a third term in office, all eyes will be on whether Ashok Chavan will retain his chief ministerial post if the government is voted back to power.
Locals say Bhokar has been the constituency, which has elected the chief minister, Ashok Chavan will know if he can follow his father's footsteps after October 22.
'Big loss': Australian head coach reacts to Mohammed Shami's absence from Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Viral video: Man claims to finds dead lizard floating in beer bottle in Telangana, watch
'Example of India's crumbling infrastructure...': LoP Rahul Gandhi over stampede in Bandra terminus
Diwali 2024: Exact date, shubh muhurat of Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj; know here
'There was no response from....': S Jaishankar criticises Congress over Mumbai 26/11 attacks
Hoax bomb threats to Indian flights continue, 50 flights disrupted today
'There will be cracks in team': Ex-India star issues stern warning following Pune Test defeat
'Suno Lawrence Bishnoi...': Man threatens gangster in viral video, backs Salman Khan, WATCH
Who is Gursimran Kaur? 19- year old Indian woman found dead in Canada's Walmart oven
UP: Taj Mahal engulfed in thick haze as pollution rises in Agra, pics surface online
Sonam Kapoor dazzles in rust lehenga with unique soil and clay body ornament at Diwali party
Diljit Dosanjh's ‘Dil-Luminati’ tour breaks concert records in India as it becomes…
This is what Ratan Tata expected in Noel Tata in order to succeed him as Tata Sons Chairman
‘True Hero’: Zomato delivery agent with no hands becomes inspires internet
UP: 10 hotels in Lucknow receive bomb threats via email, sender demands Rs 46 lakh ransom
'Aishwarya Rai in my arms': Old Vivek Oberoi video clip goes viral amid divorce rumours
Pakistan T20I, ODI squads for Australia, Zimbabwe tours announced; captain not yet revealed
THIS Indian state recorded highest number of stubble-burning cases, it’s not Punjab, Haryana
Mumbai engulfed in layer of smoke as AQI dips to 'poor' ahead of Diwali festival
Meet superstar who was only 15 when romantically paired with 55 year old star, the film was...
Mohammed Shami drops first reaction after BCCI leaves out star pacer from Team India's BGT squad
Ghaziabad to Kanpur in 5 hours? 380 km expressway to connect 9 UP districts, will be completed by...
Zomato's specially-abled delivery agent's unstoppable spirit melts hearts online, watch viral video
Salman Khan announces Da-bangg Tour in Dubai amid death threats, fans say 'Tiger Zinda Hai'
World’s most polluted city has AQI of 700, it’s not Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru
Will Vande Bharat sleeper train outclass Rajdhani Express? Here's all you need to know
Rama Ekadashi 2024: Know date, history, vrat rituals, shubh muhurat, and significance
Meet filmmaker allegedly slapped by Shah Rukh Khan, gave big flops with Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan
Why lifts have mirrors? Reason will surprise you
Delhi chokes amid rising air pollution, AQI crosses 400 at...
Gujarati is now third most-spoken Indian language in THIS country, not US, UK, Australia, it is...
NASA Alert: Giant 500-foot asteroid, as big as a skyscraper is approaching Earth tomorrow at...
Chinese woman calls Indian food ‘dirty’, changes her mind after..., watch viral video
5-20-30 rule to lose belly fat: Know benefits, risks and a step-by-step guide
ISRO chief reveals launch dates for upcoming missions: Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-4 likely in…
J-K: Terrorist hideout busted in Poonch; two grenades, three Pakistani mines recovered
Apple iPhone 16 is now banned in THIS country due to…
'Can fit 20 Empire States inside': World's largest building worth Rs 415000 to come up in…
More than 22000 kilograms cheddar cheese worth Rs 3 crore stolen in major scam from…
Maharashtra: Stampede at Mumbai's Bandra Terminus leaves 9 injured
World’s richest man Elon Musk briefly worked illegally in US after quitting…: Report
Anupamaa actress Nidhi Shah says Rupali Ganguly is insecure: 'Mere saath toh bahut...'
Tata-Airbus Project: PM Modi, Spain PM Sanchez to inaugurate TATA aircraft complex in Gujarat today
Delhi-NCR Pollution: Delhi's air quality hits 'very poor' category, AQI drops to...
Israel versus Iran: Know the current situation in 10 points
4 Indians, including siblings, killed in accident as their Tesla crashes into divider in Canada
Here's why Do Patti actor Shaheer Sheikh is called 'Shah Rukh Khan of Indonesia'
Meet Rachel Gupta who became first Indian to win Miss Grand International, she is from...
Indian girl dances with US man on Bhojpuri song in front of India Gate, VIDEO goes viral
Why Ratan Tata didn’t give anything to brother Noel Tata in his will? Reason is….
Bigg Boss 18: Double elimination in house, Nyra Banerjee's BB journey ends? Here's what we know
Meet IAS officer, who got separated from son, left-high paying job, cracked UPSC with AIR...