Sharad Pawar's NCP faction expels Nitesh Karale for six years ahead of Nagpur graduates' poll

Politics in Maharashtra was stirred just before voting in the Nagpur division graduates' Legislative Council election, as the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) expelled Nitesh Karale from the party for six years. Karale is also known as Karale Mastar.

The strict disciplinary action so close to the election caused a stir in political circles. Karale is known for his outspoken remarks and his distinctive Varhadi dialect.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi had announced Abhijit Wanjari as its official candidate for the Nagpur graduates' seat, and Sharad Pawar's party had given Wanjari its full support. Despite this, disregarding the party line and discipline, Karale filed his nomination as an independent candidate against the official nominee.

The party leadership clearly regarded this as a violation of party discipline. Karale Mastar was also accused of spreading the impression among his supporters that he had Sharad Pawar's own backing. By expelling him for six years only hours before the election, the party has sent a strong message against rebellion.

Karale runs the Phoenix Academy in Wardha and is popular as Karale Mastar. Locals believe he has spoken openly on unemployment, youth issues, reservation and farmers' concerns, without worrying about any party or political outcome.

In the 2020 Nagpur graduates' election too, he contested as an independent without any large organisational structure. He surprised political heavyweights by winning 7,000 votes in that election.

Given his public outreach, speaking skills and popularity among the youth, the Sharad Pawar faction had made him state spokesperson and secretary. But owing to his political ambition and rebellious stance, he challenged the party's decision.

The Nagpur graduates' seat is seen as a prestige contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Maha Vikas Aghadi is making an all-out effort to get its candidate Abhijit Wanjari re-elected. Following Karale Mastar's rebellion and expulsion, the arithmetic of preference votes has taken a very interesting turn.