Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar emphasized that the upcoming Lok Sabha election is a contest between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, rather than a battle within families. This comment came as his wife, Sunetra Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) candidate from the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency in Pune district, officially launched her campaign by offering prayers at the Hanuman temple at Kanheri.
On Thursday, both Sunetra Pawar and her sister-in-law, Supriya Sule, a three-term Lok Sabha member, filed their nomination papers for the NCP and the NCP (Sharad Pawar), respectively. Ajit Pawar also filed his nomination papers for the Baramati seat as a precaution, in case his wife’s nomination faced any scrutiny or discrepancies.
While addressing the gathering during the campaign launch, Ajit Pawar stated that the election was not about family ties but about the larger political contest between Modi and Rahul Gandhi. This shift in focus aims to underscore the significance of the national political landscape over individual familial connections.
On the same note, Supriya Sule launched her poll campaign on Friday by offering prayers at the Hanuman temple, accompanied by her father, NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar, and other members of the Pawar family. The event aimed to project family unity despite ongoing political tensions within the NCP and its affiliates.
Ajit Pawar addressed the perceived unity among the Pawar family, pointing out the contradictions. “Yesterday, everyone (members of the Pawar family) was sitting next to Pawar saheb. They attempted to show that the family was united. One of them claimed that Sharad Pawar established all institutions in Baramati. In that case, what have I done in the last 30 years?” he said, suggesting that his contributions might have been overlooked.
The NCP is part of the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the NCP (SP) is aligned with the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress. The complex political affiliations reflect the shifting dynamics in Maharashtra’s political landscape, with various factions within the NCP having different alliances.
Polling in Baramati, a stronghold for the Pawars, is scheduled for May 7, and the evolving political landscape and internal family dynamics are set to shape the outcome of this significant election.
