The Hindu : National : High-voltage contest likely in Kasbapet

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Monday, Sep 13, 2004

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National

High-voltage contest likely in Kasbapet

By Our Special Correspondent

PUNE, SEPT. 12. The October elections to the Maharashtra Assembly could see a high voltage contest in Pune's Kasbapet constituency with Himani Ashok Savarkar entering the fray.

She is the daughter of Gopal Godse, imprisoned along with his brother, Nathuram Godse, for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Her maiden name was Asilata Godse. She married Ashok Savarkar, elder son of Narayanrao Savarkar, the younger brother of V.D. Savarkar. Ms. Savarkar lost her husband last September.

In her bid to enter the Assembly, she has the support of Savarkar's only surviving son, Vishwas Savarkar, who lives in Mumbai. She has worked towards perpetuating the Savarkar legacy by initiating the publication of his collected works in Hindi and Marathi in 2002-2003.

Her father, Gopal Godse, is 83 years old and lives in Pune. Ms. Savarkar hopes that his appeal to vote for her, along with the renewed interest in Savarkar, will generate support for her among the traditional Hindu nationalist voters in Kasbapet, which includes areas such as Shaniwarpet, where the Savarkars live.

Besides the Hindu Mahasabha, her candidature is also being supported by Shankar Patil of the Hindu Ekta Andolan Paksha. The sitting MLA is Girish Bapat of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Anna Thorat, city unit chief of the Nationalist Congress Party had finished second in 1999.

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