For better or worse: In Madha, single men want LS candidates to play matchmaker

As political heat intensifies across the state on account of the ensuing Lok Sabha election, issues such as drought, unemployment and corruption are gaining prominence. But in Madha, a drought-prone parliamentary constituency straddling the Solapur and Satara districts in western Maharashtra, voters, especially single men, have a rather unique demand of candidates in the fray – they want their help in finding suitable matches and getting married.

Responding to the voters’ appeal, Ramesh Baraskar, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) candidate from Madha has assured that if elected, he would launch a drive to arrange marriages of unmarried youth in rural areas. Madha goes to polls on May 7, when Baraskar will lock horns with Ranjeetsinh Nimbalkar from the BJP and Dhairyasheel Mohite Patil, who will join the NCP(SP) on Sunday.

The demand of the voters in Madha is not surprising. A large part of the constituency falls under Solapur district, where the child sex ratio is among the lowest in the state; according to

the 2011 census, 883 girls were born in the district per 1,000 boys. Consequently, many young men from the district and neighbouring areas have faced multiple rejections from potential brides across the state.

“I will turn 40 in another four years, but I have still not managed to find a bride,” said a farmer from Kamati village under the Madha constituency, adding that he had been rejected by 75 girls till date, and requesting anonymity on account of his “embarrassing situation”. Although a graduate, he was entirely dependent on income from agriculture, which was falling rapidly, he said.

“Most girls want their life

Around 50 bachelors had organised a ‘Bride March’ to Solapur collector’s office in 2022.