NCP (SP) accuses Ajit Pawar’s faction of using money power for unopposed victory of their candidates

In both the elections, members of the Pawar family were pitted against each other with Supriya Sule defeating her sister-in-law and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra in the Lok Sabha elections. NCP chief Ajit Pawar defeated his nephew Yugendra Pawar in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. In the ongoing civic polls of Baramati, none of the family members of the Pawar family is contesting the election but the NCP(SP) front is contesting under the leadership of Yugendra Pawar while Ajit Pawar is personally involved in ensuring that his party gets hold of the local politics of Baramati.

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) working president and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule has written to State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare that at many places during the ongoing local body polls, pressure has been exerted by using anti-democratic means and by creating an atmosphere of fear to force candidates to withdraw candidature.

“…it is seen that a large number of elections are being held unopposed. It is creating a situation which is very serious and worrying. Also, indications are being received that in some places, pressure is being exerted, in some places, an atmosphere of fear is being created, while in some places, various anti-democratic means are being used, due to which capable and interested candidates are being deprived of even filing nominations,” the letter from Sule said.

“There is some invisible power doing this. One or two unopposed victories can be possible but the way things are spanning out and being celebrated is very harmful for democracy,” said Sule.

“If the democracy in the state and country has to be protected, there should not be unopposed elections. It is against the interest of the country and the Constitution. I have written to the Election Commission in this regard. Earlier, the Election Commission used to take action against those tempting others with offers during elections. Now, there are speeches of offers but the election commission does not react to it. The BJP is claiming 100 of its candidates won unopposed in local body polls across the state. I will also take up the issue in the Lok Sabha. The state election conducting the polls should inquire into these things. The rivals ruling the state had 200 MLAs elected in the Assembly elections but still dont have confidence. Otherwise, why would they let their candidates get elected unopposed?” she said.

Sule’s nephew and NCP (SP) leader Yugendra Pawar said, “Of the eight seats where NCP candidates have won unopposed, four candidates who withdrew were from NCP(SP). There is a talk that they were offered Rs 20 lakh by the rivals. These people are from poor families and would have taken 10 years to earn this amount. The rivals have made use of money power to make the four NCP(SP) candidates withdraw from the elections,”

He said pressure was mounted on the candidates, who got intimidated as the rival faction not only has money and other resources but also holds power in the state and the Centre. “It is obvious that few will succumb to power and fear to take on powerful people. The same pressure was put during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. I appeal to the citizens of Baramati to vote for NCP(SP) candidates if they want to keep the democracy alive,” said Yugendra.

The NCP hit back saying the allegations of Yugendra Pawar are baseless. “He should do self assessment on why his party candidates have withdrawn instead of making allegations against others. It is wrong to make allegations when they don’t have a hold over their own candidates,” said NCP leader Kiran Gujar.

“Ajit Pawar has done a lot of development for Baramati and many who were contesting against NCP candidates realised that it was wrong to contest against those fielded by the NCP chief”, said Gujar adding the NCP has never put pressure on any candidate.

“It is wrong to defame Ajit Pawar or the NCP. Those making allegations that money was given to candidates to withdraw their nominations should prove it by filing a police complaint. In reality, the NCP(SP) struggled to get a candidate for civic elections in Baramati,” said Gujar.