Who is Vijay Shivtare, the man playing spoiler on Baramati pitch for Ajit Pawar?

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.