As NCP again says Ajit Pawar will contest from Baramati, his nephew claims he is battle-ready

The NCP’s assertions have come amidst speculations that Ajit Pawar might shift to either Shirur, Khadakvasla or some other seat to ensure his victory and eventually occupy the chief minister’s chair, which he has been eyeing for long.

On his part, Ajit Pawar has also hinted that he might not contest from Baramati and his younger son Jay Pawar might contest instead.

“I don’t know why my uncle does not want to contest from Baramati. Maybe because Supriyatai was leading in Baramati by 48,000 votes during the Lok Sabha elections… Though this may not be true, he might be having his own reasons. After all, he is an experienced politician,” said Yugendra, son of Ajit Pawar’s elder brother Sriniwas Pawar. Yugendra is in NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar. During Lok Sabha elections, he and his family were in the forefront of campaigning for Supriya Sule, his aunt.

In 2019, Ajit Pawar had won Baramati Assembly seat for the seventh time with a record margin of 1.67 lakh votes. “Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections are two different things… Ajit Pawar has been winning consistently with big margins from Baramati. And has been working relentlessly for the people of Baramati. Therefore, there is no question of being worried over losing the seat. Ajit Pawar will win hands down whoever be the contestant,” said NCP spokesperson Umesh Patil.

Yugendra said he is leaving no stone unturned to interact with the voters of Baramati in a bid to keep himself battle-ready in case he is asked to jump into the fray. “I have completed two rounds of Baramati Assembly constituency. I have been active in Baramati for quite sometime now. I have been in touch with the voters here,” he said.

Asked whether he has any plans to contest from Chinchwad Assembly seat, Yugendra said, “No way, if I have to contest, I will contest from Baramati only.”

On his part, Sriniwas Pawar, his father, speaking to ABP Majha, a Marathi news channel, said, “Ajitdada has not once but twice said that he might take a different decision. Baramati is a special constituency. Sharad Pawar knows it inside out. No one else understands it better than him.”

Sriniwas said Ajit Pawar has claimed that entire Pawar family will be with him during Assembly election. “This sounds funny. Even I want to see which Pawars will be with him. And who will be the candidate? I think Ajitdada will contest from Baramati. But Baramatikars will never forget Pawar saheb, they will never leave him. You will see it in this election,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking in Baramati on Tuesday evening, Ajit Pawar said, “Whenever I had to take a political stand, I had taken it after discussion with ‘saheb’…He had first said yes and then he said I don’t think it is appropriate….” He was referring to his decision to join hands with BJP and Shiv Sena to form Mahayuti in 2023.

After inaugurating a slew of projects and laying the foundation stone in Pimpri on Wednesday, Ajit Pawar, taking a jibe at Sharad Pawar’s party, said, “When a party does not have candidate with elective merit, they import candidates.” Ajit Pawar was referring to BJP leader Harshvardhan Patil joining NCP (SP).