Congress contestant faces son of his father's murder accused

The Shiv Sena contestant from Osmanabad assembly constituency faces an unusual battle against the NCP candidate who is son of the rival party leader accused of murdering his father.

The electoral battle between Shiv Sena's Omraje Nibalkar, son of slain Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, and NCP's Rana Jagjitsinh at Osmanabad in Marathwada region is no less than a Bollywood potboiler.

Rana's father Padamsinh Patil is accused of hiring contract killers to murder Nimbalkar, who was shot dead on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway in 2006.

69-year-old Patil, who was suspended from NCP after being arrested by the CBI in June, was released on bail on September 25 and is now busy campaigning for his son.

On the other hand, 26-year old Omraje, who joined Shiv Sena last month has got a major boost when noted social activist Anna Hazare extended support to him.

Padamsinh's son, an engineer by profession, is a minister of state in the Ashok Chavan government and in his poll campaign, he often uses the phrase 'satyamev jayate' (Truth will prevail) to claim his father's innocence.  Padamsinh has been granted interim bail till October 14 by the Aurangabad bench of Maharashtra high court in a case of conspiracy to murder Hazare, filed by the social activist.

"I am not bothered about the (Pawanraje) case and its outcome because my conscience is clear," said Padamsinh expressing confidence that his son will win the seat.

According to Omraje, his father's sacrifice will not go waste. "People are sympathetic towards me. How can they forgive my uncle who plotted the murder of my father who exposed corruption in his organisation," he says.

Padamsinh, once known as NCP chief Sharad Pawar's most trusted man, is also unhappy with his party as no top leader from NCP turned up to campaign for his son.

"He may not be saying so, but one can feel that Padamsinh is deeply hurt over being ostracised by the party," an aide said.