Latur: Around 7pm, the narrow lanes near Vasant Naik Chowk in Latur city come alive with young men gathering at every corner, their faces lit with anticipation. The sound of fireworks heard from a distance alerts them. Soon, the unmistakable crackle grows closer and the crowd springs into action.
Holding aloft a gargantuan flower garland with the aid of an industrial crane, they prepare for the arrival of their leader, a scene that evokes memories of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's rousing welcome in rallies. In an open-top vehicle, Amit Deshmukh, three-time MLA from Latur City assembly constituency and the elder son of late chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, makes his grand entrance. Women shower flower petals from rooftops, cheers erupt from the crowd, and garlands encircle the air, cementing the spectacle of loyalty and grandeur.
Amit's re-election is critical to solidifying his role as the face of Congress in Marathwada, while his younger brother Dhiraj Deshmukh, the current MLA from Latur Rural, seeks to prove himself as more than just Vilasrao's legacy bearer. However, beyond the campaign frenzy, the brothers face common challenges: overcoming anti-incumbency, navigating intricate caste dynamics, and countering attacks from the opposition that accuses them of banking on their father's reputation rather than delivering results and of being "missing" from their constituencies. These two seats share a unique history.
In the 2004 Lok Sabha election, Congress's Shivraj.
