When it's all in the family

VOTE IS THICKER THAN BLOOD | Family ties tested as relatives compete against each other in upcoming Assembly election

- Ramu Bhagwat

For some families rooted in state politics, especially in Vidarbha, contesting elections is a matter of passion. So, they have to fight it out even if it is against an immediate family member. In the November 20 election in Vidarbha, for instance, a daughter is running against her father and cousin, while in another constituency, two brothers are going head-to-head.

In Gadchiroli's Aheri, four-time MLA and Maharashtra Food and Drugs minister Dharmarao Baba Atram of NCP (Ajit) is being challenged by his daughter Bhagyashree Atram-Halgekar of NCP (SP). Dharamraobaba is the scion of the royal family of Aheri in the tribal district. His uncle Raje Vishweshwarrao represented the erstwhile Sironcha in assembly and then won the Chandrapur Lok Sabha seat in 1977.

Raje Vishweshwarrao Atram's son Raje Satyavan took over and won the Aheri assembly seat in 1985 and 1995. Dharmaraobaba was a sort of rebel in the family and contested against his cousin Satyavan. Dharamraobaba aligned with Sharad Pawar and was even a cabinet minister when Pawar was the CM.