Representing the BJP, Shreejaya Chavan, daughter of former chief minister Ashok Chavan, fought against Congress candidate Tirupati Kondhekar, popularly known as Pappu Kondhekar, a grassroots leader with a reputation as the voice of farmers.

Bhokar, long considered a stronghold of the Chavan family, was represented by the family for six terms in the Maharashtra Assembly. Shreejaya Chavan, a third-generation politician with roots in Mumbai, where he studied and briefly practiced law, fought to preserve his family’s legacy in this key constituency. Her father Ashok Chavan served Bhokar as an MLA in 2009 and 2019, while her mother won the seat in 2014. Before them, her grandfather and two-time chief minister Shankarrao Chavan represented Bhokar in the state assembly three times .

However, Shreejaya faced great challenges. Ashok Chavan’s defection from the Congress to the BJP ahead of the recent Lok Sabha elections alienated many in Nanded district, where residents have traditionally opposed BJP candidates. Widespread discontent over low soybean and cotton prices, Maratha agitation over reservation, and voter frustration with dynastic politics added to the pressure.

Tirupati Kondhekar: The underprivileged with the support of farmers

On the other side was Tirupati Kondhekar, a second-generation Congressman and former district president of the Youth Congress. Hailing from a farming family, Kondhekar spent two decades working under Ashok Chavan and was using his grassroots connections to challenge the BJP in a constituency that had long opposed the saffron party.

Kondhekar’s campaign, though modest in structure, resonated with local voters. His self-proclaimed identity as a “farmer’s son” and his criticism of the Chavans for failing to address agricultural issues struck a chord with the rural electorate of Bhokar. Locals rallied behind him, raising 80,000 lei for his campaign – a show of solidarity that could tip the scales in his favour.

Constituency dynamics

Bhokar, with 3.03 lakh voters, presents a complex demographic landscape:
– OBC voters: 1.2 lakh
– Marathas: 80,000
– Dalits: 48,000
– Muslims: 35,000

This diversity makes it a battleground where caste dynamics, economic grievances and political loyalties collide.

Bhokar Assembly Election Result 2019

• Winner: Ashokrao Shankarrao Chavan (INC) – Votes: 140559
• Runner Up: Shrinivas Alias ​​​​Bapusaheb Deshmukh Gorthekar (BJP) – Votes: 43114

High stakes for both sides

While Shreejaya Chavan fought to preserve the Chavan family’s hold on Bhokar, Kondhekar portrayed himself as a candidate of the people, using the “common man Vs dynasty” narrative to challenge the BJP. With both debutants fighting to make their mark, the outcome of the election will not only shape Bhokar’s future but also signal the changing political dynamics in Nanded district.

This clash of legacies and grassroots politics has made Bhokar one of the most watched contests in the Maharashtra assembly elections.