After submitting his nomination papers for the Baramati assembly constituency on Monday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar delivered a poignant speech at a rally, accusing his uncle, Sharad Pawar, of dividing their family by supporting a rival candidate against him. “I previously admitted to making a mistake,” he said, “but it seems like others are now making errors too. My family and I had agreed to file the form in Baramati first, but that didn’t happen.” Ajit noted his mother’s plea against fielding a candidate against him, but he learned that “Saheb [Sharad Pawar] instructed someone to file a nomination against me.”
Ajit further lamented the familial split caused by this decision, saying, “Saheb created the split within the family… It took generations to build unity in our family, and it only takes a moment to shatter it.” He appealed to his supporters, urging that “politics should not descend to such a low level” and argued for maintaining family unity and respect, despite political differences.
Ajit Pawar is set to face his nephew, Yugendra Pawar, Sharad Pawar‘s choice to contest from Baramati. Ajit’s connection to the Baramati constituency dates back to 1991, a seat he has held for decades with overwhelming support. In the 2019 Assembly elections, Ajit secured victory by over 165,000 votes, underscoring his political clout in the region. However, the Pawar family dynamics have evolved significantly in recent years, marked by Ajit’s alignment with the Mahayuti government and his split from Sharad’s NCP faction last year. This realignment intensified internal family tensions, which culminated in Ajit’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, losing her Lok Sabha seat to Supriya Sule, Sharad Pawar’s daughter, by a margin of 1.5 lakh votes earlier this year.
Addressing the criticisms of his development work in Baramati, Ajit explained, “Some people question development work done in Baramati; it doesn’t mean making roads and building schools is all there is to development.” He expressed his commitment to broader social improvements, stating that he needs “to understand what development truly means… I understand you have a right to speak, but what you talk about is not understandable.”
Ajit Pawar expressed confidence in his chances of winning, declaring that “the Mahayuti [alliance] will come back in power” on November 23, the day after the election results are declared. He reassured his supporters, vowing that ongoing schemes like the Ladli scheme would continue, particularly those designed to benefit farmers. “If they [the opposition] come to power, they will shut it down,” he warned, adding that his government’s return to power is vital to fulfill promises made to the people.
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The Pawar family dynamics have historically shaped the political landscape of Baramati, where Ajit has long held sway. Yet this election, pitting him against Yugendra Pawar, carries high stakes and reflects the deeper divide within the NCP factions. This contest in Baramati has become a focal point in Maharashtra’s upcoming state elections, where voters’ choice may redefine the Pawar legacy in the constituency and could mark a turning point for Ajit Pawar’s influence in Maharashtra politics.
