AKOLA

During the time of India’s independence, the region that now comprises the Akola district was a part of the then-Berar region, with Akola serving as the headquarters. In 1950, the Berar region became a part of the then-state, Madhya Pradesh. Later in 1956, the Marathi-speaking areas of Madhya Pradesh were incorporated into the Bombay state. Then, with the Bombay Reorganisation Act of 1960, the Bombay State was divided into Gujarat and Maharashtra, and Akola became a part of Maharashtra.

The Akola district consists of the Akola Lok Sabha, which includes six Vidhan Sabha segments: Akola East, Akola West, Akot, Balapur, Murtizapur (SC), and Risod. Only Risod among the Vidhan Sabha segments is situated outside the Akola district, i.e. in the Washim district.

Within the Vidhan Parishad, the district is represented by Akola-cum-Washim-cum-Buldhana Local Bodies Authorities Constituency, the Amravati Teachers’ Constituency, and the Amravati Graduates Constituency. The Graduates and Teachers’ Constituencies are based on the administrative divisions of Maharashtra. This chapter will focus on the Akola Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha segments that comprise it.

The given maps provide an overview of the boundaries of the Akola district and the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha Constituencies that fall within and around it.

Based on the delimitation reports by the Election Commission, the given chart provides an overview of the changes that have occurred in the composition of the Akola Lok Sabha constituency and the reshuffling of the Vidhan Sabha constituencies with every delimitation that has been done.

The table below lists the current Member of Parliament (MP) representing Akola district in the Lok Sabha, as of 2024:

The following table presents the current Members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Akola district, as of 2024:

There is no member from Akola district currently serving in the Rajya Sabha.

The current Guardian Minister for Akola district, as of 2024, is:

The following table lists representatives of Vidhan Parishad constituencies that include Akola district, as of 2024:

The following table provides the names of key administrative officials in Akola district, as of 2024:

Akola district has a total of 7 Urban Local Bodies as of 2024, comprising 1 Mahanagar Palika (Municipal Corporation), 5 Nagar Parishads (Municipal Councils), and 1 Nagar Panchayat (Town Council). The district also includes 535 Gram Panchayats, which are responsible for rural governance and development across villages in the region.

The Akola Zilla Parishad was established in 1962, following the formation of the state of Maharashtra. N.S. Sapkal served as the first President of the Zilla Parishad. Since its inception, the council has played a central role in implementing rural development schemes, coordinating with Panchayat Samitis, and managing education, health, and infrastructure projects in the district.

The Akola Municipal Corporation was officially established on 1 October 2001. As of 2023, it is divided into 80 electoral wards. Since its formation, political control of the Corporation has alternated between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Indian National Congress (INC), and the Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh.

Currently, Archana Mosne of the BJP is serving as the Mayor of the Corporation.

Akola district has five Nagar Parishads, which govern smaller urban centres. These include Akot Nagar Parishad, Balapur Nagar Parishad, Murtizapur Nagar Parishad, Patur Nagar Parishad, and Telhara Nagar Parishad.

There is one Nagar Panchayat in the district: Barshitakli Nagar Panchayat.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a total of 15 candidates contested from the Akola constituency. Among them, 3 candidates had criminal cases registered against them, including 1 candidate with serious criminal charges. These candidates were from the Indian National Congress (INC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA).

The elected MP from Akola, Anup Sanjay Dhotre (BJP), has one criminal case registered against him.

In the 2019 Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections, 84 candidates contested across Akola district. Of these, 21 candidates had criminal cases registered against them, with nearly 70% facing serious charges. Notably, no candidates from the Akola West constituency had any criminal cases.

Among the elected MLAs from the district, two members, Randhir Sawarkar (Akola East, BJP) and Nitin Deshmukh (Balapur, SHS-UBT), had serious criminal cases registered against them. MLAs elected from Akola West, Akot, Murtizapur (SC), and Risod constituencies do not have any criminal cases filed against them.

Akola has seen its fair share of communal riots in recent years. Both of these clashes in November 2021 and May 2023 broke out over posts on social media handles of religious groups.

In 2021, communal tensions erupted in the Akola district following allegations by both Hindu and Muslim groups accusing each other of posting hateful religious messages on social media. Investigations later revealed that many of these posts originated from fake accounts.

The incident occurred in the broader context of purported violence in Tripura, which was used as a catalyst to communalize local sentiments. A WhatsApp group was reportedly used to mobilize people and escalate the conflict. The situation led to stone pelting, prompting authorities to suspend internet services and impose Section 144 (curfew) in the affected areas. FIRs were filed against more than 40 individuals in connection with the violence.

Communal unrest has increased over the years in Akola. In May 2023, in a second such event, riots broke out again over hurtful religious posts on social media and turned ugly when the rioters set on fire some two-wheelers and four-wheelers during the violence. Over 100 people were detained, one person was killed, and eight others, including two policemen, were injured. Internet services were shut down temporarily.

Unidentified individuals pelted stones at a Ganesh immersion procession in the Nandipeth area of the town of Akot, injuring some police personnel and civilians. Police detained 68 persons for allegedly throwing stones and beefed up security in sensitive areas.