2019 Lok Sabha Election Results for Solapur, Maharashtra: BJP's Dr Jai Sidheshwar Shivacharya Mahaswamiji wins against Congress' Sushilkumar Shinde

The battle for Solapur has been an interesting one as a veteran of Indian politics was pitted against a religious leader and a leader of marginalised groups.

The election saw a contest between Congress' Sushilkumar Shinde and BJP's Dr Jai Sidheshwar Shivacharya Mahaswamiji and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi's Prakash Ambedkar.  Dr Jai Sidheshwar Shivacharya Mahaswamiji is a Lingayat seer. 

Result:  BJP's  Dr Jai Sidheshwar Shivacharya Mahaswamiji wins against Congress' Sushilkumar Shinde

In 2014, Shinde was defeated by BJP's Sharad Bansode by a margin of 1,49,674 votes.

 Dr Jai Sidheshwar Shivacharya Mahaswamiji got a clear victory by bagging a huge margin against Shinde. 

Sushilkumar Shinde has been a Home Minister in the state. He was hoping to retain votes from the Congress loyal base. Mahaswami Siddheshwar was banking on the support from 3.60 lakh Lingayat voters, whereas Ambedkar was looking to garner three lakh Dhangar, three lakhs Muslim and 2.50 lakhs Dalit votes, apart from the 3.50 lakh Maratha votes. The battle hence seems to be majorly drawn on the lines of caste.

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Key poll issues as per local Congress and VBA leaders who spoke to the media were water crisis, farmers' crisis, unemployment among rural-urban youth. They claimed anti-incumbency would be a factor.

Solapur is a reserved seat for scheduled caste candidates. Solapur is well known for its textiles industries. It has 17,02,754 voters including 8,93,736 males and 8,09,019 females.

The constituency recorded its lowest turnout for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with 51.98 per cent turnout. It had gone to polls in the second phase of the general elections on April 18.

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