The home-cum-office of Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) leader Ganpatrao Deshmukh was flooded with supporters as they trooped in to congratulate the 88-year-old veteran who has recorded his 11th victory in assembly polls from Sangola in Solapur. Deshmukh, who defeated Shiv Sena candidate Shahajibapu Patil by a margin of 25,224 votes, now equals DMK leader M Karunanidhi’s record. But, according to the PWP leader, his achievement is more unique as he has secured 11 assembly terms from a single seat unlike Karunanidhi who had represented different constituencies. Speaking to The Indian Express, Ganpatrao’s 47-year old son Chandrakant Deshmukh said Sangola voters were loyal to his father because of his honesty and selfless service. “Our taluka has been a drought-affected area where water scarcity is a perennial issue. My father has been trying to address the water scarcity issue constantly for the past five decades and succeeded in his efforts to a major extent,” said Chandrakant, who is also the vice-president of District Cooperative Central Bank. Ganpatrao registered 10 victories in 12 assembly polls before this contest, with only two defeats to his name — during the Assembly elections of 1972 and 1995.
