Malvan, in scenic Sindhudurg, is controversial Congress minister Narayan Rane's political bastion.
This was evident when almost 5,000 people -- almost a tenth of Malvan's population -- gathered to support the candidature of Rane's son Nilesh Rane as the campaign came to a halt at 5 pm on April 21.
The younger Rane is engaged in battle for the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency with the Shiv Sena's sitting MP Suresh Prabhu.
While Narayan Rane -- now in the Congress after a bitter feud with Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray -- holds sway in Sindhudurg, the Sena has an upper hand in Ratnagiri. Prabhu won the 2004 Lok Sabha election from the Rajapur Lok Sabha constituency in Ratnagiri. After the delimitation of constituencies, Rajapur was replaced by the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency.
Image: Narayan Rane with supporters in Malvan.
Also see: The lady who will surprise Sharad Pawar! | India Votes
Advertisement