Mistake to field a family member against me: Ajit Pawar after filing his nomination

Pawar, who had earlier indicated that he would not contest the assembly election, later acceded to the demand made by the party cadre to fight the polls.

4 min readPuneUpdated: Oct 29, 2024 09:50 AM IST

Ajit Pawar consecutively won the Baramati assembly constituency in the seven previous held Assembly elections, a family stronghold that he had taken over from his uncle Sharad Pawar. (PTI Photo)

In his first ever election after parting ways with his uncle Sharad Pawar, NCP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who will be taking on his nephew Yugendra Pawar in his home turf, on Monday filed his nomination from the Baramati assembly constituency following a grand road show.

He also accused Sharad Pawar of creating a rift in the family by fielding a family member against him.

Pawar, who had earlier indicated that he would not contest the assembly election, said he acceded to the demand
made by the party cadre and decided to fight the polls.

Ajit Pawar consecutively won from the Baramati assembly constituency in the seven previously held Assembly elections, a family stronghold that he took over from his uncle Sharad Pawar. He always followed his uncle in politics but parted ways two years ago to take charge of the NCP with the support of a majority legislators.

“I did not want to waste five years so I joined the ruling alliance to ensure development of the state,” said Pawar.

“I am filing my nomination for the Assembly elections from Baramati for the eighth time…In the seventh time that I won, the situation was different and I won with a record margin. This time, I am contesting as a Mahayuti candidate,” said Ajit Pawar after filing his nomination.

Pawar launched his election campaign after seeking blessings at Kanheri temple. He took women voters with him to file the nomination, indicating that the aim of the Mahayuti government is to empower women in the state.

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Getting emotional during the launch of his election campaign, Ajit Pawar accused Sharad Pawar of creating a rift in the family by fielding one of the family members against him in his home turf.

Stating that he had made mistakes in the past, the Deputy CM said, “I should not have fielded Sunetra against Supriya… I was upset after the results of the Lok Sabha election, hence I had said I will not contest from Baramati.”

Taking a dig at Sharad Pawar, the NCP leader said, “I made a mistake earlier and I admitted it but who is making a mistake now? I was supposed to fill the nomination form first.”

“We are from the Tatyasaheb Pawar family, we rose from a very humble situation. My mother supported us. It is wrong the way things are going on in the family. Elders should have interfered. My mother was telling not to field a candidate against me but Sharad Pawar still went ahead with the decision. He is the one bringing a rift in the family of Tatyasaheb Pawar,” said Ajit Pawar.

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Stating that one should not stoop this low in politics, the Deputy CM said, “It takes generations to maintain unity but not much time to break ties. The family differences should be within the four walls of the house and not to be out in politics. If there’s a gap, no one from outside can fill it. A family progresses when its united.”

Crediting his uncle Sharad Pawar for bringing development in Baramati, Ajit Pawar said he too contributed to the constituency’s development once he was made a legislator.

“It gives me satisfaction to see the change in Baramati compared to what it was 35 years ago. As a Baramati MLA, I tried to bring here what’s best for the constituency. You have supported Sharad Pawar during the Lok Sabha elections as a mark of respect towards him, now you should elect me in the Assembly elections,” said Ajit Pawar.

The NCP chief said he was impressed with the overwhelming response he received during the roadshow and requested citizens to keep supporting him till the voting day.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Pune. With over 22 years of experience in the industry, he is a highly specialized journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of urban infrastructure, governance, and sustainability. Professional Background Role: As Assistant Editor, he plays a key role in the editorial direction of the Pune bureau, specializing in urban policy and its direct impact on citizens. Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He also studied at the prestigious Fergusson College. Impactful Reporting: He is credited with research-based articles on conservancy staff (waste workers) that influenced national policy for better working conditions. He is also known for exposing the contrast between high-end infrastructure (like helipads for leaders) and the lack of basic amenities like schools in their home districts. Personal Interests: An avid trekker and sports enthusiast, his personal interest in the outdoors often informs his reporting on environmental protection and sustainable development. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) His reporting in late 2025 has been dominated by the upcoming January 2026 Civic Polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the city's infrastructure boom: 1. Political Analysis (Civic Elections 2026) "Not friendly but a bitter fight lies ahead between BJP and NCP for PMC, PCMC" (Dec 22, 2025): A detailed look at the intense rivalry between the Mahayuti partners as they prepare for the January 15 municipal elections. "Pune civic polls: Big blow to NCP, NCP(SP) as leaders switch to BJP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on high-profile poaching and party-hopping ahead of the elections. "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): Analyzing the results of the local self-government body elections as a precursor to the main civic polls. 2. Infrastructure & Urban Development "Looking Ahead at 2026: Pune to see inauguration of much-awaited Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro route" (Dec 22, 2025): An "outlook" piece on the critical Metro Line 3 project expected to finish by March 2026. "Building Pune: PMC to construct double-decker bridge over Mula-Mutha River" (Dec 18, 2025): Detailing a major project aimed at easing traffic between Hadapsar and Kharadi. "Condition of highway from Pune to Kolhapur to improve in a year: Gadkari" (Dec 4, 2025): Reporting on the Union Minister’s assurances regarding one of the state's most critical transport corridors. 3. Civic Governance & Environment "Install sensors, LED indicators at construction sites within 15 days: PMC to builders" (Dec 16, 2025): A follow-up to the "Breathless Pune" series, reporting on new mandates for builders to monitor air quality in real-time. "Errors in electoral rolls: PMC corrects data of 92,466 voters" (Dec 16, 2025): Tracking the administrative efforts to clean up the voter lists before the 2026 elections. Signature Style Ajay Jadhav is known for accountability journalism. His work often bridges the gap between high-level policy and the "ground zero" reality of Pune's residents. He is particularly focused on Sustainable Development, ensuring that as Pune grows into a "Bharat Mandapam" style destination (referring to his report on the Lohegaon project), its environmental and social safeguards remain intact. X (Twitter): @ajay_khape ... Read More

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