The soon to be crowned MCA President Vijay Patil is not a politician himself but comes with political lineage; his father Dr. DY Patil has been Congress politician and Governer of three states.
"I have to be very candid, considering stature of people who have been Presidents of MCA and the rich legacy is has, to be considered for the post of President, unanimously, is humbling," he spoke after filing his nomination.
Patil fought hard against Sharad Pawar for the top post in 2015 but could not overcome Pawar's political nous.
The weight of the Chief Minister's chair also makes its presence felt in the final analysis. Amol Kale, a Nagpur based industrialist and close aid of CM Devendra Fadnavis is fielded by the Bal Mhadalkar group for Vice President and allowed free sailing with no contest from opposing, Cricket for Change group.
Maharashtra state sports minister and former MCA President Ashish Shelar backed Sanjay Naik is contesting for the crucial Secretary's position but likely to face stiff resistance from the seasoned administrator and pitch curator Nadeem Menon.
Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik who has unsuccessfully contested in past MCA elections has fielded his son Vihang Sarnaik, this time for one of the nine Managing committee posts.
While none of the political candidates this time are heavyweights, a look at representatives of 350 clubs' voter base would tell you, there will be no shortage of mega politicians turning up on the voting day. Starting from Aditya Thackrey who could be the next Deputy CM of the state, his father and Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackrey, BJP's current minister Ashish Shelar, NCA politician Jitendra Awahad - politicians across party lines have stakes and will come for voting.
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