With Pawar saheb by my side, I am 100 per cent confident of winning Baramati seat, says Yugendra as another Pawar vs Pawar battle ensues in family bastion

When asked whether he would be able to put up a fight against the likes of Ajit Pawar, a popular leader who had won Baramati seat for seven consecutive times, Yugendra, without any hesitation, said with Sharad Pawar by his side, he was fully confident of
capturing Baramati seat. ”People of Baramati have always trusted Pawar saheb for years. Pawar saheb has put his faith in me and I am sure, people of Baramati will give me an opportunity to serve them. With Pawar saheb by my side, I am 100 per cent confident of winning the seat,” he said.

Asked about the issues which plague Baramati, Yugendra said he would be highlighting rising crime, corruption, unemployment among youths, water issue, inflation and lack of proper development.

Yugendra said there are still some pockets in Baramati where drinking water have not reached. ”These areas will be my priority,” he said.

Asked whether Ajit Pawar had failed to push Baramati’s development, Yugendra said,”Big buildings have come up in Baramati assembly seat, but issues of the common man have remained unresolved. My uncle failed to address the issues of the common man. I will put in all effort to resolve issues affecting the ordinary citizens.”

Yugendra said he will file his nominations after discussing with his grandfather and party leaders. ”I will file by nomination in next two three days,” he said.

”I want to thank everyone..I will make most of the opportunity given to me…I will make Pawar saheb feel proud of my achievement. I have gone around Baramati taluka three times and will keep the momentum going,” he told reporters in Baramati.

State NCP president Jayant Patil, who announced the name of Yugendra Pawar at a press conference in Pune along with names, revealed why Yugendra was selected to contest from Baramati.
”The Baramati candidate’s selection was based on demands of the local people and interaction with people and workers of our party. They had suggested that he can take everyone along. So we thought he is the best person from our side. The way he was being supported by people, we feel there will be a different result which you are not expecting,” he said.

This will first time Yugendra Pawar, son of Ajit Pawar’s elder brother Sriniwas Pawar, will be contesting an assembly election. While his uncle Ajit Pawar will be contesting his eighth ssembly election.

In 2019 election, Ajit Pawar had created a record on election turf of Maharashtra by winning the seat by a margin of over 1.67 lakh seat.

However, Ajit Pawar was ”fighting shy” of contesting from Baramati assembly seat. He had instead suggested the name of his son Jay Pawar from the seat. Leaders from Sharad Pawar’s had alleged that he was scared of fighting as his wife was trailing in Baramati assembly seat by over 48,000 votes during the Lok Sabha election where his wife lost to Supriya Sule.

NCP leaders like Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel had been insisting that Ajit Pawar will contest from Baramati and that he should lead the party from the front. Later, Ajit Pawar also changed his stand and cited the pressure from Baramatikars. ”I belong to Baramati and Baramati belongs to me,” he had said.