As the Maharashtra elections draw ever closer, the clash between political legacy and incumbency will redefine the political landscape in Nashik district’s Malegaon Outer Assembly segment.
The political arena in Malegaon Outer pits the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT)’s (oppsoiton MVA’s) candidate Advay Hiray against veteran cabinet minister Dada Bhuse from the ruling Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, seeking re-election for a fifth straight term.
The stakes are high as both candidates carry the weight of their respective legacies into a constituency that has witnessed significant political shifts over the years.
Dada Bhuse, a stalwart of the Shiv Sena and a fixture in Maharashtra politics since 2004, has navigated his share of controversies, including serious allegations stemming from the 2001 Malegaon riots. Despite a chequered past, Bhuse has maintained a stronghold over the Malegaon Outer Assembly seat, touting his record of development projects that have transformed the constituency. His tenure has seen the completion of key infrastructure projects. That said, he will be fighting against the headwinds of anti-incumbency sentiments.
Enter Advay Hiray, scion of a prominent political family with deep roots in Maharashtra. The Hiray clan, once synonymous with grassroots politics in the region, has struggled to maintain its relevance over the past few decades.
Advay is the great-grandson of the late Bhausaheb Hiray, a distinguished Congress leader from North Maharashtra who served as a minister in successive cabinets. The Hiray family has a storied political legacy, with other notable members, such as Pushpatai Hiray and Adya’s father - Prashant Hiray, also having held elected office and ministerial roles across various administrations.
Once, Malegaon stood as a bastion of Hiray influence; however, this stronghold was gradually usurped by Bhuse, who supplanted the Hiray clan, who, by this time had fragmented owing to internecine political rivalries.
Advay’s switch to Shiv Sena (UBT) from the BJP in January 2023 was strategic and came at a time when Uddhav Thackeray was trying to rebuild his splintered party in north Maharashtra. Advay himself has faced serious legal troubles, including an arrest related to a cooperative bank fraud.
And yet, he is now positioning himself as the candidate of change against Bhuse’s established regime.
Malegaon Outer, a mix of urban and rural demographics, faces pressing challenges that extend beyond individual candidates. The area is grappling with economic struggles, particularly among onion farmers who have been hit hard by recent export bans, and ongoing demands for improved infrastructure and local governance.
Complicating the contest in Malegaon Outer is the emergence of Bandu Bachhav, a young leader who, after being passed over for a Sena (UBT) ticket, is running as an independent. With a robust local network, Bachhav is poised to siphon votes from both Bhuse and Hiray, potentially tipping the scales in this tightly contested seat.
As the election date draws near, the race in Malegaon Outer is not just about two candidates but a reflection of broader political currents in Maharashtra. Will Advay Hiray’s legacy help reclaim the Hiray family’s lost prominence, or will Bhuse’s experience and established network hold strong against the winds of change?
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