If there is one aspect of contemporary politics which cuts across party lines, it is the incidence of giving higher weightage to credentials than merit, so much that the practice is now becoming a ritual. But there is one ‘lineage-gifted’ sitting MLA who has bucked the trend by voluntarily offering his seat to another party worker.
The seat is in Konkan and the MLA is advocate Ajit Gogate. His uncle, Appa Gogate, was elected on a BJP ticket and had represented Devgad since 1985. In the 2004 election, he retired from politics. The party then approached his nephew Ajit, and despite his reluctance, convinced him to contest the polls, since if he declined, the party would have risked losing a stronghold. Ajit contested, and won.
However, two years ago, Ajit Gogate declared he will not contest the next election, and intimated party leader Vinod Tawade. The party then started looking for a new candidate, and the search ended with a new leader Pramod Jathar. The newcomer was asked to work in the constituency, and now, the party has offered him the Gogate family seat.
It is worth noting that there was no unrest against Gogate. His uncle is respected for doing good work in the constituency, and Ajit Gogate too is known as a proactive MLA. Ajit, however, said, “My uncle served four terms as an MLA from Devgad, and I too have represented this constituency for the last five years. However, it is not a Gogate family’s empire, and it is not our party’s tradition too to hold onto a seat. Pramod is good friend of mine and I am sure that he will win. I am campaigning for him.”
BJP leader Vinod Tawade said, “Gogate was representing the constituency, so we were under the impression that he will contest, but two years ago he declared he will not be the next candidate for the party. The party then offered candidature to Jathar.”
