Control over Baramati: Will it be Sharad Pawar or Ajit Pawar? Turnout keeps everyone guessing

The split in NCP last year after Ajit Pawar with a large number of legislators joined the NDA had led to stiff tussle within the factions with others led by Sharad Pawar. The tussle had reached the Election Commission of India and then the Supreme Court. It was the first time through election that they took on each other to establish their supremacy.

In 2019, the voter turnout was 61.54 percent which had increased slightly in comparison to 2014 turnout. Among the six assembly segments in Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, the maximum voter strength of 5.38 lakh is in Khadakwasla assembly where the voter turnout percentage seemed to be lowest of all but still the largest considering the number of votes that will play major deciding factor. The assembly segment has been traditionally with BJP which was now ally of NCP-led by Ajit Pawar.

However, the highest turnout per cent was in Baramati assembly area but is likely to have a split within two NCP considering the voters loyalty towards both the Pawar’s.

The Indapur assembly segment with second highest voter turnout percentage is expected to have edge for Sunetra Pawar as sitting legislator is of Ajit Pawar faction and BJP leader Harshvrdhan Patil extended support to the ally candidate.

Sule is likely to retain the edge in Bhor assembly segment where sitting Congress legislator put in all efforts to garner as much vote for Sule in the tough contest. The Bhor segment has increase in voter turnout compare to that in 2019.

The Daund assembly segment had voting less than expected and it was likely to help Sule as the assembly seat was represented by BJP legislator Rahul Kul.

In Purandar, the voter turnout did not change much and was close to that in 2019. It then had sided more with Sule but this time Shiv Sena leader Vijay Shivtare support to Sunetra Pawar might have adverse affect on performance of Sule in the area.