Ajit Pawar vows to defeat Amol Kolhe from Shirur Lok Sabha seat, MP says not worried

After Ajit Pawar mounted a criticism against him, Shirur Lok Sabha MP Amol Kolhe said he is focused on his work.

Ajit Pawar claimed Shirur MP Amol Kolhe wanted to resign because he was preoccupied with the film and television world. (Express file photos)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday vowed to ensure the defeat of Shirur MP Amol Kolhe, who belongs to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. On his part, Kolhe said he was gearing up to contest the seat and was not bothered about what his rivals were up to.

Criticising Kolhe, Ajit Pawar, without naming the sitting MP, said, “If an MP had paid attention to his constituency in five years, it would have benefitted. That MP was given a ticket by me. I and Dilip Walse-Patil put in our best efforts to ensure his election,” he said.

Ajit Pawar said the Shirur Lok Sabha seat has six assembly constituencies. “But he (Kolhe) was not seen in any of them. He completely ignored the Lok Sabha constituency,” he said.

Ajit Pawar claimed Kolhe wanted to resign because he was preoccupied with the film and television world. “He said he was an artist and his movies were getting affected. He said even the movie on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj didn’t succeed. ‘This was affecting me financially’. This is what he told our senior (Sharad Pawar) and me before seeking to resign as an MP,” he said.

“I was not going to talk about this but since elections are coming, some people have become enthusiastic. Some are taking out sangharsh yatra, others are taking out padyatra,” he added.

Stating they will field a new candidate in Shirur, Ajit Pawar said they had nominated the appropriate candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. “We field candidates depending on the public opinion. After getting elected, each one has to decide how to work in his constituency. Now, we will ensure the victory of the candidate who will be fielded from Shirur,” he added.

Reacting to Ajit Pawar’s attack on him, Kolhe said, “Ajit Pawar is a tall leader. I can’t comment on what he said. I don’t think he will throw a challenge to a small worker like me. But it is true that whenever I did good work, it was he who appreciated it”.

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Kolhe said, “I am gearing up to contest the Shirur seat again if my party chief Sharad Pawar fields me again. I am more focused on my work and not bothered by what the rivals are planning”.

Kolhe is a popular Maratha actor known for his roles as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in movies and television serials. He started his career with the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray. He later resigned and joined the NCP before the 2019 elections.

He was fielded by the Nationalist Congress Party from the Shirur constituency where he defeated three-time sitting MP Shivajirao Adhalrao-Patil who is also preparing to contest from the seat.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP camp said Ajit Pawar was peeved with Kolhe because he refused to join him.

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When Ajit Pawar staged a rebellion in July this year, Kolhe was present for the swearing-in ceremony. However, later he said he was misled and had no knowledge that Ajit Pawar had decided to join hands with the Shinde-Fadnavis government.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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