The upcoming Lok Sabha poll is going to be an interesting watch in Maharashtra’s Baramati as there’s a high possibility of a close battle between two members of the Pawar family. Without naming anyone, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar hinted at fielding a candidate against his cousin and Baramati MP, Supriya Sule, in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Friday.
Sounding the election bugle against Sule, Ajit Pawar made an emotional appeal to his constituents to elect a “first timer” who is though surrounded by “experienced people”. His speech fuelled speculations about his party fielding his wife, Sunetra Pawar, against Sule.
Ajit Pawar also said that only if his candidate wins against Sule, he will contest the Assembly elections from Baramati and urged voters to vote for the development of the constituency.
“Since the formation of Maharashtra state and the commencement of elections till date, it has never happened in Baramati that the deposit of opposition candidate was not forfeited. And I am proud of it,” Pawar said on Friday.
He further urged the people to show their love and said, “People will come to you and ask for your votes on emotional issues but it is up to you to decide whether you will vote on emotional grounds or to continue development work and for the welfare of your future generations.”
In a veiled attack on Sule, he said, “Those who work, are bound to face allegations. Those who do not work, are bound to remain clean.”
Supriya Sule has represented the Baramati constituency for three consecutive terms since 2009 and was Rajya Sabha member before that from 2006 to 2009.
According to a Hindustan Times report, Sunetra Pawar has started a publicity campaign for Ajit Pawar in the Baramati constituency and is likely to be fielded against sitting Supriya Sule, the daughter of seasoned leader and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sharad Pawar.
Recently, banners wishing Sunetra on her birthday were put up across the Baramati constituency. The banners also extended political greetings to Ajit and Sunetra Pawar. The banners featured photos of Parliament along with Ajit and Sunetra Pawar, indirectly wishing luck to Sunetra for her political career.
Responding to the developments and speculations, Supriya Sule said, “Given the political scenario, it is expected that someone will be contesting against me. So such decisions should be welcomed with complete strength.”
Responding to speculations of an NCP vs NCP battle during the Lok Sabha polls in Baramati, he said, “He is making people emotional by saying that family is on one side and he is alone on the other. Things that have never happened in the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency are now happening.”
Who is Sunetra Pawar
Sunetra, Ajit Pawar’s wife, hails from a politically influential family, with her brother Padamsinh Patil being a senior politician and former minister. The couple has two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar. While Jay oversees the family business, Parth, with political aspirations, contested and lost in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Maval, as reported by Deccan Herald.
Sunetra Pawar is recognised for her social work in Baramati, and her official website highlights her role as the founder of the Environmental Forum of India, an NGO established in 2010. She has played a key role in promoting the eco-village concept in India. Additionally, Sunetra serves as a trustee for Vidya Pratishthan, a renowned educational institution. Since 2011, she has been a think tank member of the World Entrepreneurship Forum in France, according to her website.
‘If I were Sharad’s son…’: Ajit Pawar’s retort to ‘stealing’ claims
Ajit Pawar, who has been accused of stealing his uncle’s party, while refraining from directly naming Pawar Senior, said, “Had I been born in the senior’s (Sharad Pawar) house, I would have naturally become the national president, and the entire party (NCP) would have been under my control.”
“Although not in the senior’s family, I was still born in his brother’s family,” Pawar said while addressing a rally in Baramati.
(With ANI inputs)
