Pune: When many sitting MLAs across the state face anti-incumbency ahead of the assembly election, there are 12 legislators who have managed to win their seats for more than five consecutive terms, including three who have remained undefeated seven times in a row from the same constituency. At least 11 of them are back in the poll arena to contest the Nov 20 assembly election. PWPI leader late Ganpatrao Deshmukh was the longest-serving MLA in Maharashtra's history, elected to the state assembly for 11 consecutive terms from Sangola constituency.
Among the current serving legislators, Congress MLA Balasaheb Thorat is the seniormost. He won the Sangamner seat for eight consecutive terms since 1985 and is now eyeing a ninth win. On how he manages to defeat anti-incumbency in the constituency, Balasaheb Thorat said, "The most important thing is to have a clear vision, and one should sincerely work hard for it.
This has been the way for my consistent victory. Once I win the election and our celebrations are over, the first paper with which I go to people is the beginning of my preparation for the next election." The other MLAs who remained undefeated in their respective constituencies for a longer period include Dilip Walse Patil from Ambegaon and Jayant Patil from Islampur, who has won seven consecutive terms since 1990.
Similarly, deputy CM Ajit Pawar has also won all the assembly elections from Baramati after he first won the byelection in 1991. Babanrao Shinde, former MLA of N.