Hatkanangle Lok Sabha i.e. erstwhile Ichalkaranji Lok Sabha Constituency. A major part of the Constituency of Krishna Panchgange, Kolhapur, Sangli District. Congress and then NCP ruled this constituency for many years. Especially Balasaheb Mane, his daughter-in-law Nivedita and now his grandson Darisheel Mane. This family won the Hatkanangle Lok Sabha from time to time.

This sugarcane constituency gained national recognition, however, due to the unexpected victory of Raju Shetty of Swabhimani Shetkar Sangathan.

With no financial or political support, Raju Shetty shook this citadel of sugar kings twice and brought the strength of the farmers to the Parliament. But Raju Shetty's campaign in the last election was ineffective. How did this happen? What are the political calculations in this complex constituency? Let's find out from this article.

Hatkanangle Constituency can be said to belong to the ideology of Congress. That is, Balasaheb Mane of Congress won five terms from 1977 to 1991 from here. After that Kallappa Awade won twice from Congress.

Later when NCP was formed, Balasaheb Mane's daughter-in-law Nivedita Mane became MP twice.In 2009, Raju Shetty for the first time won a resounding victory from here by defeating the NCP candidate.

Later, in the 2014 election seat allocation, the 'Nationalists' again gave this constituency to the Congress. At that time, Shetty continued his winning streak.

What happened during the 2019 election?


In this constituency, the Jain community has about one and a half lakh votes. With that support, Raju Shetty had set his footing by winning the votes of sugarcane farmers in a big way. Shetty, who had an honest image, continued to receive support from the common farming class.

Aggressive caste propaganda against the Shettys was started during that time to disrupt this. Moreover, Raju Shetty himself had made a statement against the Brahmin class . It is said that this statement of his was inspired by him.

Raju Shetty gained recognition as a farmer's leader at the national level by directly criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. That's why Shiv Sena along with BJP put all their strength behind Mane to defeat him.

Raju Shetty held several agitations for the issue of sugarcane farmers. The government was also directly affected by it. Against that, the courageous Mane entered the arena with the issues of farmers, youth, traders and entrepreneurs.

Mane gained popularity in the city after Raju Shetty failed to meet the voters' expectations on Ichalkaranji's water issue and the development of the textile industry. Besides, army chief Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sainiks raised the pitch of the campaign.

With the support of the BJP and the background of the Maratha Morcha, Darhysheel Mane took the field.

Will Raju Shetty fight on his own?


Kolhapur Lok Sabha Hatkanangle constituency is currently held by Shiv Sena Shinde group. Raju Shetty, who is fighting on the support of Aadhya in the 2019 elections, is going to contest the Lok Sabha elections this year as well.

Shetty had said that India or Mavia should not come to us for discussion, we will not go to their door. And immediately two days later, Shetty met Uddhav Thackeray. Although Shetty says that this visit is apolitical, his politics are not hidden. The strategy is to rectify the mistake of the past by fielding Shetty from Shiv Sena's quota. So will Raju Shetty contest this election from Mahavikas Aghadi? It is not clear that he will fight on his own.

Mahavikas Aghadi's exercise to find candidates...


While Raju Shetty's decision on one side is causing confusion, on the other side Shiv Sena MP Darhysheel Mane has gone with the Shinde group, the process of finding a candidate from the Mahavikas Aghadi is on.

The role of Sharad Pawar NCP State President Jayant Patil will be important. His son Prateek Patil has again extended contacts in the constituency. When Sharad Pawar NCP held a constituency-wise review meeting, the office-bearers demanded that Prateek Patil, son of state president Jayant Patil, should be nominated.

Although the demand has been made by the office bearers, Jayant Patil is also said to be willing. If Jayant Patil's political strength in Islampur, Shirala and Hatkanangle and Mahavikas Aghadi stand behind Prateek Patil in the elections, Jayant Patal's efforts to launch the son will be successful.

Who is the candidate of Mahayuti?


At present, there is a discussion in the Mahayuti that only MP Darisheel Mane, who rebelled against Thackeray in this constituency and held Shinde's hand, will be given the 2024 candidature. However, even after five years, both the water issue and the development of the textile industry in Ichalkaranji are still standing as before, so there may be a boomerang of resentment.

Mane will also have to be convinced of the substantial progress made regarding the logistics park, industrial estate in Shahuwadi.

On one hand, BJP has started to increase the strength of grand coalition as a backup plan. BJP state vice president, former Ichalkaranji MLA Suresh Halvankar is being discussed as interested in Lok Sabha. But it is the history of their politics till date that BJP can make a big bang at the right time.

Looking at the current picture, it is clear that the incumbent MP will fight bravely against Raju Shetty, the leader of the Swabhimani Shetkar Sangathan. Along with him, Prateik Patil, son of Nationalist Congress President Jayant Patil, Rahul Awade, son of independent MLA Prakash Awade who supported BJP, Vinay Kore, Jansurajya Shakti Party MLA, late Congress MP from Shahuwadi Taluka Uday Singhrao Gaikwad, grandson of District Bank Director Ranveer Singh Gaikwad have come forward for candidature.