Sushil Kumar Shinde: The Pivotal Figure in BJP’s Solapur Campaign

The Solapur Lok Sabha constituency in western Maharashtra is witnessing a high-stakes battle between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress in the 2024 general elections. The BJP, which won the seat in 2019 by defeating Congress veteran Sushil Kumar Shinde, is facing a tough challenge from the former chief minister and Union minister, who has decided to contest again from his home turf.

Shinde, who belongs to the Dhor caste, a Scheduled Caste community, has a long and illustrious political career spanning over five decades. He has represented Solapur Lok Sabha as Congress MP in 1998, 1999 and 2009. He has also served as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, the Minister of Power and the Minister of Home Affairs in the Manmohan Singh government, and the Leader of the House in Lok Sabha. He is widely respected for his administrative acumen, political sagacity and mass appeal.

BJP’s dilemma over candidate selection

The BJP, on the other hand, is facing a dilemma over its candidate selection for Solapur. The party’s sitting MP Jaisidheshwar Swami, a spiritual leader who defeated Shinde by over 1.5 lakh votes in 2019, is embroiled in a legal controversy over his caste certificate. The Bombay High Court had invalidated his certificate in 2020, ruling that he did not belong to the Nathpanthi Davari Gosavi community, a Scheduled Caste group. The matter is still pending before the Supreme Court.

The BJP is unlikely to field Swami again in 2024, as it fears losing the support of the SC voters, who constitute over 20% of the electorate in Solapur. The party is also wary of the anti-incumbency factor and the resentment among the local BJP leaders and workers over Swami’s alleged non-performance and aloofness. The party is looking for a suitable alternative who can match Shinde’s stature and popularity.

Shinde’s claim of BJP’s offer

Adding to the BJP’s woes, Shinde recently claimed that he had been approached by the BJP twice to join its fold. He said that he had spurned the offer both times, as he was loyal to the Congress and the Gandhi family. He also alleged that his daughter Praniti Shinde, who is a Congress MLA from Solapur city central, was also offered a BJP ticket to contest from Solapur Lok Sabha seat.

The BJP has denied Shinde’s allegations, saying that it never made any formal offer to him or his daughter. However, the party has admitted that it would welcome anyone who wants to join its fold by accepting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and development agenda.

Shinde’s importance for Congress

Shinde’s importance for the Congress cannot be overstated. He is one of the few senior leaders who can galvanize the party’s rank and file and take on the BJP’s formidable election machinery. He is also seen as a unifying force among the various factions and groups within the Congress in Maharashtra. He enjoys cordial relations with other opposition parties like NCP, Shiv Sena and MNS, which are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition that rules the state.

Shinde’s main campaign issues

Shinde’s main campaign issues are the BJP’s failure to fulfill its promises of development, employment, farmers’ welfare and social justice. He has also highlighted the BJP’s attempts to polarize the voters on communal lines and create law and order problems in Solapur. He has cited the recent incidents of stone pelting during a Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha rally organized by some BJP leaders in Solapur, which led to communal tension and violence in the city.

Shinde has also accused the BJP of neglecting Solapur’s interests and aspirations. He has pointed out that despite having a BJP MP for five years, Solapur did not get any major projects or schemes from the Centre or the state. He has contrasted this with his own track record of bringing several development works to Solapur during his tenure as MP and minister.

Shinde’s chances of winning

Shinde’s chances of winning depend on several factors, such as his ability to mobilize his core support base of SCs, Muslims and OBCs, his appeal among other communities like Marathas and Lingayats, his coordination with other MVA allies and his counter-strategy against BJP’s campaign blitzkrieg. He also faces some challenges from within his own party, such as the lack of enthusiasm among some Congress workers and leaders, who feel sidelined or ignored by him.

Shinde, however, exudes confidence and optimism about his victory. He says that he has the blessings of the people of Solapur, who have always supported him in his political journey. He says that he is fighting not for himself, but for the cause of democracy, secularism and social harmony. He says that he is confident that the people of Solapur will reject the BJP’s divisive and destructive agenda and vote for the Congress’s inclusive and progressive vision.