Battle for Baramati: Yugendra, Sule confident but predict close fight, NCP says cakewalk for Ajit

Since 1967, the Pawar family has never lost the Baramati seat, both in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. NCP veteran Sharad Pawar has himself won Baramati Assembly and Lok Sabha seats a total of 14 times.

While Ajit Pawar has won from the Baramati Assembly seat seven times and Baramati Lok Sabha seat once, Sule has been the Lok Sabha MP from Baramati four times. On the exit polls, Yugendra said: “Some of the exit poll results are showing my victory, some are showing the victory of my uncle. Anyways, I am confident of the victory.”

Yugendra, son of Sriniwas Pawar, elder brother of Ajit Pawar, said that several factors would contribute to his victory.

“The first and foremost is Pawar saheb. People of Baramati have a special place for him in their hearts. During my campaigning, my emphasis was on Pawar saheb’s contribution to the development of Baramati. But after he gave up, the development of Baramati has slowed down. Jobs are few and far. No new industrial unit has come up in last several years and the water scarcity continues… I sought votes for protecting the ”swabhiman” (self-respect) of Pawar saheb,” he said.

Yugendra said that he had also highlighted his vision for pushing the development of Baramati during campaigning.

“I got the opportunity to visit each and every village… One of the promises that I have made to the youngsters of Baramati setting up of IT hub in Baramati like Pune’s Hinjewadi. This will ensure that youth from Bamarati do not have to go to other cities and states for jobs,” he said.

Sule said that during the Lok Sabha elections too — she had contested against Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar— they were thinking that it would be close fight.

“But it turned out to be one-sided one. We hope same thing happens this time… Baramati voters had given me a lead of 48,000 despite the fact that the oppostion had gone all out to woo them,” she said.

On their part, the NCP leaders said they are confident of Ajit Pawar’s victory. “Our national president has won the seat seven consecutive times. He has also won the seat Baramati Lok Sabha seat once. He is admired across Maharashtra for his leadership qualities. He has worked relentlessly for the development of Baramati. If he is fielded anywhere in the state, he will still win. We have no doubt about his victory from Baramti,” said NCP spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare.

Tatkare dimissed the possibility of the Baramati election going down to the wire. “Ajit Pawar will win by a margin of over 50,000 votes…In 2019, he had won by a record margin of 1.67 lakh votes,” he said.