By Tejas Navale
Pune, November 27, 2024: In a historic electoral shift, Shankar Mandekar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-Ajit Pawar faction) triumphed in the Bhor assembly constituency, unseating Sangram Thopte and ending a 25-year hold of the Thopte family. Mandekar’s victory was fuelled by an overwhelming voter turnout in Mulshi taluka and strong support from Bhor and Velhe talukas. In contrast, low turnout for Thopte in Mulshi and unexpected trends in Bhor and Velhe sealed his defeat.
A Complex Constituency with a Massive Turnout
The Bhor constituency, one of Maharashtra’s most challenging, with 477 villages and 564 polling stations spread across remote mountainous terrain, recorded a high voter turnout of 67.79 percent. Out of 4,30,278 registered voters, 2,91,704 cast their votes. The breakdown saw 1,25,176 votes in Bhor taluka, 39,921 in Velhe, and a significant 1,26,607 votes in Mulshi.
Mandekar secured 1,26,452 votes, defeating Thopte, who garnered 1,06,817 votes, by a decisive margin of 19,635. Independent candidates Kuldeep Konde and Kiran Dagde collectively attracted more than 55,000 votes, and NOTA received 2,711 votes. This marked a shift in power for Bhor and gave Mulshi taluka its first MLA in 15 years.
Mandekar’s Lead in Mulshi Proves Unassailable
Mandekar’s commanding performance in Mulshi taluka played a pivotal role in his victory. Of the 1,26,606 votes cast in Mulshi, Mandekar secured 82,000 votes, compared to Thopte’s 27,464, establishing a massive lead of 53,094 votes. While Thopte managed 78,881 votes in Bhor and Velhe, surpassing Mandekar by 33,187 votes, it was insufficient to close the gap created in Mulshi.
Independent Candidates and Divided Votes Impact Results
The presence of independent candidates proved detrimental to Thopte’s campaign. Kuldeep Konde and Kiran Dagde together captured more than 55,000 votes, significantly cutting into Thopte’s voter base. Additionally, limited support from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) in Mulshi and divided votes from the Shiv Sena (UBT) further weakened Thopte’s position.
Unemployment, Unfulfilled Promises Fuel Anti-Incumbency
Local issues also played a significant role in the election outcome. The absence of industrial development in Bhor and Velhe, which lack MIDCs, has left a large number of youth unemployed. Despite the region’s historical forts, tourism remains underdeveloped, further compounding the employment crisis. Additionally, unresolved issues such as the incomplete canal pumping project and persistent drinking water shortages during summers added to voter dissatisfaction.
Anger over these long-standing issues led to a youth-driven push for change, toppling the Thopte bastion and allowing the NCP-Ajit Pawar faction to reclaim the constituency for the first time since 1999.
