Sharma : who constituted the district leadership ?
Chavan : Bhausheb Soman and D. K. Gosavi were important district leaders, who later became our great friends, especially mine. I respected them. Bhausahib died later- in the 1950s, I think.
Then atmaram Patil was also a district leader of the younger people. some of us from his group were emerging as new leaders. This was a period of transition of district leadership after the election. They conceded the seat to us. They thought that we were bound to lose as we had no money or big name. But when the campaign started, they realised that we had the strength and Atmaram Patil received uprecedented vote at the poll. There were multi-member constituencies at that time. From each constituency four candidates used to be elected. One candidate from each constituency was not the policy then. So in my district there was one or two constituencies. In this constituency there were nearly five or six tahsils. Among the four persons elected, Atmaram Patil topped the poll. At that time, francnise was not adult franchise. It was restricted to property rights, Land revenue was the basis of the franchise at that time.
For election campaign we used to move on bicycles or in buses or by bullock-cart. There used to be yatras where we used to announce about the next meeting. We had to speak without any loudspeaker which was not easily available in those days. People used to throng in those meetings. At that time one party one symbol was not there.
Sharma : I think they had coloured boxes.
Chavan : No, every individual member was supposed to have a symbol and atmaram patil had Hal as his symbol. it became a symbol of agriculturists. His success in the election established the rural leadership very firmly in Maharashtra because that was not only the experience of my district but of the whole State and of Pradesh Congress Committee also. A new type of leadership was emerging.
