Mumbai:
The Sharad Pawar vs Ajit Pawar throwdown – and the authorized squabble for management of the Nationalist Congress Occasion – has dominated Maharashtra politics for almost a 12 months.
And now – with lower than a month for the 2024 Lok Sabha election – the Pawar vs Pawar spat might have a secondary storyline in Baramati – the ‘sugar bowl of Maharashtra’ – the place Sharad Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule, might face off in opposition to Ajit Pawar’s spouse, Sunetra.
Baramati has been the stronghold of the Pawar household since 1996.
Sharad Pawar is a six-time MP from this space, together with 4 occasions in a row from 1996 to 2004. Crucially, the 1999 and 2004 wins got here after he break up from the Congress to kind the NCP, underlining the actual fact Baramati voters adopted Mr Pawar away from the occasion.
Since 2009 Baramati – which has by no means voted for the BJP or the Shiv Sena, and solely 4 occasions since 1989 for a non-Pawar Congress candidate – has been held by Supriya Sule, who’s bidding to change into a four-time MP from the high-profile constituency.
In 2019 she swatted away the problem of the BJP’s Kanchan Rahul Kul, selecting up almost 53 per cent of the votes and defeating her rival by greater than 1.5 lakh ballots.
Marking a fourth consecutive win will not be fairly as simple although.
Within the persevering with battle to go one-up on his uncle, Ajit Pawar has his eye set on the celebrated Baramati Lok Sabha seat. Earlier this month his occasion nominated his spouse to contest the seat. Mr Pawar would maybe have been the popular selection, however he’s additionally Deputy Chief Minister and would have needed to resign had he gained the parliamentary seat.
The BJP is determined to win Baramati too; victory right here can be a press release of intent in opposition to the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, of which Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction is a component. It’s going to additionally enhance the ‘mission 45’ objective, which is to win 45 of the state’s 48 Lok Sabha seats.
The 2 probably contenders discovered themselves face-to-face at a Hanuman temple in Baramati, the place cordial greetings and a hug had been exchanged. The temple has political significance as all Pawar members of the family, together with Ajit, go to earlier than launching their election campaigns.
In Ms Sule’s camp is, after all, her father and NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar. Additionally campaigning for her is Rohit Pawar, her nephew, who final month was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in reference to a cash laundering case.
The ED summons to Mr Pawar, a first-time MLA, have been slammed as politically motivated by Sharad Pawar’s NCP. Ms Sule, who accompanied her nephew on the day of questioning, additionally accused the BJP (once more) of utilizing probe businesses just like the ED to focus on rival leaders.
Rohit Pawar has declared a wave of sympathy for the Sharad Pawar faction – triggered by Ajit Pawar’s breakaway and assaults on his 83-year-old uncle – will guarantee Ms Sule’s win
Ms Sule has avoided direct assaults on her sister-in-law, however has launched a wave of assaults on the political coalition she represents, which is made from the Ajit Pawar NCP faction, the BJP, and the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Ms Pawar, in the meantime, has been energetic attempting to ascertain a political presence within the rural heartlands of Baramati. Her days start at 8 am and embody prolonged conferences with villagers to grasp their considerations. In an unique interview with NDTV, she acknowledged her decrease profile however mentioned she stays dedicated to carving out her personal identification.
All of the whereas that the Supriya Sule-Sunetra Pawar story unfolds, there’s a potential twist within the story. Shiv Sena chief Vijay Shivtare has mentioned he’ll contest the Baramati seat too
Within the earlier election, Mr Shivtare was a candidate from Purandar however misplaced, incomes jibes from Ajit Pawar. This time round, Mr Shivtare is prepping to contest not Ajit Pawar’s spouse.
He has, nevertheless, denied any speak of vendetta behind his resolution
Baramati votes on Could 7 and on June 4 the outcomes can be declared.
