Lok Sabha polls: It could be Pawar vs Pawar in Baramati
A sign of the family clash came when Ajit Pawar urged Baramati voters to elect a “first timer” who he said, will be surrounded by “experienced people”.
Maharashtra’s Baramati Lok Sabha constituency is most likely to see this time a clash within the Pawar family that considers it its political hub, with MP Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP founder Sharad Pawar, pitted against Sunetra Pawar, wife of deputy chief minister and rebel NCP leader Ajit Pawar.
Sule has represented Baramati in the Lok Sabha for three consecutive terms since 2009. Sharad Pawar had won the Lok Sabha seat from Baramati five times, the last time in 2004. He was also the MLA from Baramati in the Maharashtra assembly six times.
Ajit Pawar's emotional appeal
Ajit Pawar himself won the Baramati Lok Sabha seat in 1991 and, later, was elected seven times from there to the Maharashtra Assembly, the last time in 2019.
The first major sign of the impending family clash came on Friday when Ajit Pawar made an emotional appeal to Baramati’s voters to elect a “first timer” who he said would be surrounded by “experienced people”.
He did not take any name but it was clear he was referring to his wife Sunetra Pawar.
Sunetra’s campaign
To signal that this is not empty talk, Sunetra Pawar has already begun a publicity campaign in Baramati.
Sunetra Pawar comes from a political family. Her brother Padamsinh Patil is a senior politician and a former minister. She is widely seen as a social worker.
He said in his message: "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."
Sule’s reaction
Reacting to the developments, Sule said: "It is a democracy. Everyone here has the right to contest elections and hence it's a fair thing to say."
The NCP broke up in July last year when Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government.
The Election Commission earlier this month ruled that the Ajit Pawar faction would be recognised as the 'real NCP', thereby giving it control over the party name and symbol (clock), weeks before the Lok Sabha election.
