“Vijay Shivtare, what is your stature? How much you talk! This time I will see how you become an MLA. Everyone in Maharashtra knows that if Ajit Pawar decides that one should not be elected MLA, no one can make him one,” NCP leader Ajit Pawar had spit fire in a rally, in the run up to the 2019 state Assembly elections.
Pawar’s ire was directed against the then two-time Sena MLA from Purandar Vijay Shivtare, who had attacked the Pawar clan (still united) while campaigning for 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
While Ajit Pawar remained true to his word, and ensured Shivtare lost the election, the 64-year-old Sena leader has now come back to haunt Ajit Pawar. Shivtare, now with Shinde-Sena, has publicly stated that he wants to contest the Baramati Lok Sabha seat from where Pawar is planning to field his wife Sunetra, against his now estranged cousin Supriya Sule.
While Ajit Pawar is facing dissent from within the Pawar clan over his rebellion against uncle Sharad Pawar, Shivtare’s insistence on contesting from Baramati has further muddied the waters for Pawar.
Shivtare’s stand against Pawar has created a rift within the tripartite ruling alliance, with NCP warning Shinde-led Sena to ensure that support for Sunetra from leaders and workers is seen on ground, and failing to do so would not be beneficial for the ruling side.
NCP is also demanding disciplinary action against Shivtare, seeking his ouster from Sena. Shivtare had ticked off the NCP to an extent that party leaders had held a press conference threatening to spoil the pitch for Sena in Kalyan LS constituency, from where CM Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant is expected to contest.
Shivtare, however, is in no mood to back down. While he is openly hostile to Ajit Pawar, he has cloaked his rebellion under the veneer of his fight against dynastic politics.
“People of Baramati have no choice other than the Pawar family. They will have to vote either for Supriya tai or Sunetra Pawar. It is time to end the Pawar dynastic rule from Baramati. People want to see the change and I am ready to lead,” Shivtare told The Indian Express.
Known in his constituency as Bapu, he has even told CM Shinde that he is ready to contest as BJP candidate in 2024 general polls to defeat the sitting Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule. “I met the CM twice. I told him if Sena does not want to contest, I am ready to contest as BJP candidate. It is imperative we end the Pawar rule,” he said.
Shivtare belongs to Purandar Assembly seat, one of the six in Baramati constituency. He won his first election in 2009 by defeating NCP’s Digambar Durgade, and retained the seat in 2014 by defeating Sanjay Jagtap of Congress. He was made a Minister of State of Water Resources and guardian minister of Satara district during 2014-19.
However, in 2019, Jagtap defeated Shivtare after Ajit Pawar himself campaigned against him. After the defeat, his health woes and disputes within the family, pushed Shivtare on the backtrack. Later on, he joined CM Shinde after the latter rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray to ensure his claim on Purandar seat in 2024 Assembly polls.
“Baramati is not the Pawar family’s private property. Be it Daund or Purandar or Indapur. These areas are kept away from development due to Baramati and people won’t forgive them (Pawar family),” he said.
In recent times, Shivtare has also trained his guns on Ajit Pawar, saying it was the time to show him his real place.
When asked if his feelings for Ajit Pawar have mellowed, Shivtare said that even if he pardoned him, the voter will not. “If there is no third candidate, most votes will go to NOTA. People are against Pawars,” he claimed.
Even as his party associates are trying to rein him in, threatening a possible suspension, Shivtare who has substantial financial clout has shown an unwillingness to back down. “If nothing else, I will contest independently,” he said.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More
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