Maharashtra: Latur Saves Congress’s Face, Chavan’s Comment Costs BJP, Deshmukh Brothers Turn the Tide

Mumbai: In a decisive outcome in the Latur Municipal Corporation elections, the Congress party has delivered a significant setback to the BJP, reclaiming control of the city it had lost in 2017. While BJP had established dominance in Latur in the last municipal polls, this time Congress not only wrested victory but did so convincingly. A controversial remark by BJP leader Ravindra Chavan about former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh proved costly, while the Deshmukh brothers played a key role in consolidating Congress’s triumph.

Congress Triumphs in Latur
Amid municipal elections across 29 corporations in Maharashtra, Latur emerged as a stronghold for Congress. Of the 70 seats in the Latur Municipal Corporation, Congress secured over 40 seats on its own, while the BJP managed just over 20. The NCP, led by Ajit Pawar, won a single seat. Political analysts say that BJP’s misstep during the campaign, particularly Chavan’s remark that memories of Vilasrao Deshmukh should be “completely erased” from the city, backfired. Though Chavan later issued an apology, the damage was already done.

Deshmukh Brothers Capitalize on BJP Gaffe
The political reaction to Chavan’s statement was swift. Asududdin Owaisi also criticized the BJP, while the Deshmukh family leveraged the issue to their advantage. Bollywood actor and Vilasrao Deshmukh’s son, Riteish Deshmukh, stated that the legacy of leaders remembered in people’s hearts can never be erased. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tried to mitigate the fallout by emphasizing Deshmukh’s pivotal role in Maharashtra’s development and paying tribute to his contributions.

A Look Back: BJP’s 2017 Stronghold
In the 2017 Latur Municipal Corporation elections, BJP had secured 36 seats, narrowly ahead of Congress, which won 33 seats. NCP had won one seat. BJP held the mayoral post for half the term, while Congress managed it for the remaining half. Vilasrao Deshmukh, a towering Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM, was influential in the region, and his three sons—Amit, Ritesh, and Dheeraj—have varied levels of political engagement. In the last assembly elections, Amit won from Latur City, Dheeraj lost, and Ritesh remains focused on his film career.

Latur Preserves Congress’s Credibility
While Congress suffered setbacks elsewhere in Maharashtra’s municipal elections, victories in Latur and Chandrapur helped the party retain some ground. Latur is also a Congress parliamentary seat, represented by Shivaji Kalge. Outside Latur City, most assembly constituencies are dominated by BJP and NCP. Congress increased its seat count in Latur compared to 2017, showcasing its stronghold in the region despite losses in Mumbai, where the party’s share halved after exiting the MVA alliance. In Chandrapur, Congress also gave BJP a close contest, winning 30 seats.