A DAY after his nephew Yugendra Pawar was fielded by Sharad Pawar-led NCP from Baramati, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said he was confident Baramatikars won’t let him down and will ensure he moves around the state with his head held high after the elections.
“I’m confident Baramatikars will give such a verdict that I will continue to criss-cross Maharashtra with my head held high,” Ajit Pawar said on Friday while heading for a rally to Indapur taluka.
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On NCP (SP) fielding Yugendra from Baramati, from where he has won seven times, Ajit Pawar said, “This is normal in elections. Tomorrow, even you can file nomination papers. The picture will become clearer on November 23. Baramatikars are wise…I have full faith in them.”
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.
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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.”
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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.
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.
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