Shirdi Lok Sabha seat of Maharashtra is one of the two constituencies in Ahmednagar district. This is an important seat of the state. This seat was created after the division of Kopargaon Lok Sabha constituency in 2008. The first parliamentary elections were held here in the year 2009. Shiv Sena has dominance on this seat. Presently Sadashiv Lokhande of Shiv Sena is the MP from here. After the split in Shiv Sena, the elections here have become quite interesting. The party is divided into Uddav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde faction.
There is a contest between Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena on Shirdi Lok Sabha seat. Here Shinde and Uddav groups are face to face. Here, Raj Thackeray’s MNS, which is part of Mahayuti, is also planning to contest elections from Shirdi seat. The current MP from here, Sadashiv Lokhande, is contesting from Shinde faction of Shiv Sena. At the same time, former MP Bhausaheb Wakchore, who left Shiv Sena and joined Congress in 2014, has returned to Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray faction. He has been made a candidate from here.
Was part of Kopargaon constituency
Shirdi Lok Sabha seat came into existence in 2008. Before that it was a part of Kopargaon constituency. Congress was dominating Kopargaon. From here, Balasaheb Vikhe Patal became MP from Congress party for 6 consecutive terms. He later joined Shiv Sena and was once elected MP from Shiv Sena. In the year 2009, Shiv Sena’s Bhausaheb Wakchore was elected MP in the first election from Shirdi Lok Sabha seat. Later Shiv Sena made Sadashiv Lokhande its candidate here. He won consecutively in 2014 and 2019.
Got recognition from Sai Baba
Shirdi Lok Sabha seat is very famous religiously. There is a famous temple of spiritual guru Sai Baba here. This area is also called Sainagar Shirdi. Devotees of all religions come here for darshan. Sangamner area falling in this parliamentary constituency is very famous for clothes, jewelery and electronics market. It is also known for milk production. Kopargaon, which falls in the parliamentary constituency, has been the workplace of Shukracharya. The ancient Kacheshwar temple is present here.
Bhausaheb Wakchore of Shiv Sena registered victory
In the first parliamentary election held in 2009 from Shirdi Lok Sabha seat, Shiv Sena gave ticket to Bhausaheb Wakchore. He faced Ramdas Athawale of RPI(A). 12 independent candidates contested this seat. BSP also made Kacharu Nagu Waghmare its candidate from here. Shiv Sena’s Bhausaheb Wakchore won this election by 1 lakh 32 thousand 751 votes. He got 3 lakh 59 thousand 921 votes. Ramdas Athawale got 2 lakh 27 thousand 170 votes. At the same time, the remaining candidates could not save their deposits.
Result of year 2014
Shiv Sena changed its candidate in the 2014 elections. The party expressed confidence in Sadashiv Lokhande. Lokhande won this election by 1 lakh 99 thousand 922 votes. He faced Bhausaheb Wakchore who left Shiv Sena and joined Congress. Lokhande got 5 lakh 32 thousand 936 votes in this election. Whereas, Vakchaure got 3 lakh 33 thousand 14 votes.
Result of year 2019
In the year 2019, Shiv Sena’s Sadashiv Lokhande won this election again. He defeated Bhausaheb Kamble of Congress by 1 lakh 20 thousand 195 votes. Lokhande got 4 lakh 86 thousand 820 votes. Bhausaheb Kamble of Congress got 3 lakh 66 thousand 625 votes. In this election, VBA’s Sanjay Laxman Sukhdan got 63 thousand 287, independent candidate Pradeep Sunil Sarode got 12 thousand 946, CPI’s Salah. Bansi Satpute got 20 thousand 300 votes.
