2024 polls: Sitharaman to tour Baramati to galvanise party in Pawar stronghold

Sitharaman will review the status of various projects and also work out a road-map with the state party unit, said sources.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (File)

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will visit Baramati, the home turf of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, between August 16 and 18 to galvanise BJP cadre ahead of Lok Sabha and legislative assembly polls in 2024.

“The party has decided to leave no stone unturned to lend its power to its Baramati unit, one of the most difficult seats… the minister, during her visit, will tour Baramati parliamentary constituency,” sources in the BJP told The Indian Express.

NCP leader Supriya Sule has won the Baramati Lok Sabha seat since 2009, after replacing her father, Pawar, in the constituency. Pawar won successive polls between 1991 and 2004 on his home turf. Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar holds the Baramati Assembly seat.

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Baramati comprises six assembly segments — Indapur, Bhor, Daund, Khadakwasla, Purander and Baramati.

A senior BJP leader said, “Since its formation, the BJP has never been able to win Baramati.” It has always remained the stronghold of the Pawar family.

Sitharaman will review the status of various projects and also work out a road-map with the state party unit, said sources.

The BJP has shortlisted 16 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra which are presently held by either Congress, NCP or Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray faction, they said. The target, according to sources, is to win 45 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

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In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 23 seats and its then alliance partner Shiv Sena won 18.

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