Those criticising will vote for me after learning my performance as MP: Sule after filing her nomination for Baramati

“Someone said I will cry over it (losing the party name and symbol). I am the granddaughter of Shardabai Pawar. My grandmother has not taught me to cry but to fight any adverse situation in life. I will fight with full strength. Look at my fortune, the God has given me a symbol that is considered auspicious during any new start or religious activity,” said Sule after filing her nomination for Baramati, along with NCP (SP)’s Shirur candidate Amol Kolhe and Ravindra Dhangekar, who is the Congress candidate for Pune seat.

On allegations by Deputy Chief Minister and her cousin Ajit Pawar that there was no development fund for the constituency in the last 15 years, Sule said, “It seems they have not read my performance report. I will send a copy of it to them. I have confidence in my work.” Sule added those who were with them in the past are now making personal attacks but they never did that before.

“I never indulged in elections at the local level since senior leaders were involved in it. It is my upbringing to not interfere in the work that seniors handle but instead provide help. I want to assure the cadre that MVA will contest all elections at the local level,” she said.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and state unit chief Jayant Patil, Congress leaders Prithviraj Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat and Vishwajit Kadam, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sachin Ahir and Sushma Andhare also addressed the rally.

“Those now in power have cheated the public for 10 years. There are issues of inflation, unemployment, farmers and many more, for which they have given empty assurances but did not fulfil any,” said Sharad Pawar.

“In 2014, during the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, the price of petrol was Rs 71 per litre and Modi had declared that he would bring down the price in 50 days. It is Rs 106/litre now after 10 years of Modi rule. Similarly, the domestic LPG cylinder rate was Rs 410 per cylinder but now it is Rs 1,060. He had given assurance of employment to two crore youths every year but in the last 10 years, unemployment has increased due to lack of jobs,” said Pawar.

The NCP (SP) chief said Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was put in jail as he criticised Modi and so was Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.  Balasaheb Thorat said victory for NCP (SP) in Pune and Maharashtra will be a mark of respect to Sharad Pawar, who has worked hard to make Maharashtra the developed state in the country. He added the victory of the MVA would also be a sign of respect for Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray.