Facing challenge from nephew, Ajit Pawar says confident Baramatikars will keep his pride intact

Stating that he has worked honestly for the people of Baramati, he said, “In Baramati, you can ask anyone. I have worked hard for them. And that is why they have ensured my victory six to seven times. Compare Baramati with other constituencies of Maharashtra, whatever was possible for me I have done for Baramati. Whenever I have contested, Baramatikars have supported me. I will try to clear my stand to them. I am confident they will give such a verdict that I will continue to move around Maharashtra with pride.”

After his nomination was announced on Thursday, Yugendra told this paper that Ajit Pawar had only built big buildings but failed to address the problems of the common man. “Whatever sustainable development Baramati witnessed was done during Sharad Pawar’s time,” he said.

Meanwhile, at a rally in Indapur for party candidate Dattatrya Bharne, Ajit Pawar took a jibe at NCP (SP) candidate Harvarshvardhan Patil, who had commented recently that he had an “invisible hand” in the victory of Supriya Sule from Baramati Lok Sabha constituency.

“I have always worked honestly for candidates contesting elections. I have never done match-fixing. If I had to oppose, I oppose upfront…,” he said.

Ajit Pawar said Patil cannot be trusted by the people. “How can he be trusted? On one hand, he took us to his home for lunch and on the other, he supported our opponents,” he said.

Calling Patil a party-hopper, Ajit Pawar said, “The BJP had promised to make him an MLC. But he refused to listen and left the party to join Sharad Pawar’s party. He is a party-hopper, cannot be trusted.”

Maharashtra Republican Party to support Ajit Pawar

The Maharashtra Republican Party on Friday announced its support to Ajit Pawar-led NCP. The announcement was made in a joint press conference in Indapur, where NCP president Ajit Pawar and Republican Party president Sanjay Sonwane addressed the media.

Speaking at the press conference, Ajit Pawar said, “Sanjay Sonawane has been working for the betterment of the society, he identifies himself as an Ambedkarite. I assure him that NCP is inclusive, and I will allocate 10% of our seats to minorities. We are committed to work on the path of Shiv, Shahu, Phule, Ambedkar to take the state forward.”

Maharashtra Republican Party is currently active in 23 districts of the state. Sonawane said, “We want to counter the opposition’s false narrative that the Constitution will be changed and reservation will end”. The party announced that it will support NCP candidate and sitting MLA Dattatray Bharane.

With this, NCP’s position in Indapur is further strengthened. Sonawane’s support could bring in Dalit votes for the NCP.