Speaking to media persons in Mumbai after filing the nomination, Sunetra denied this. “I thank the party for nominating me. I will try to make most of this opportunity given to me." (Express Photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)
WITH Sunetra Pawar, wife of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, all set to become a Rajya Sabha MP, the battle of Baramati — which started during the Lok Sabha election and went in favour of Supriya Sule in round one — promises to intensify further what with the two leaders from the Pawar family refusing to see eye to eye.
On Thursday, Sunetra Pawar filed her nomination papers for the lone Rajya Sabha seat at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai. As she was the only candidate who filed the nomination papers, it has become clear she will be declared elected unopposed next week.
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”Tomorrow, the scrutiny of form will take place. The last date to withdraw is June 18. As there are no other candidates, Sunetra Pawar will be declared elected unopposed,” said NCP spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare.
On Wednesday, the Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders had told The Indian Express they will not be fielding a candidate as they do not have the required strength of MLAs to contest the election. ”In a house of 288 MLAs, the BJP-led Mahayuti has more than 190 MLAs. And therefore there cannot be any contest. We will not field a candidate,” NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase had said.
Before Sunetra Pawar filed her nominations, there was high drama as some leaders who were eyeing the seat in the Rajya Sabha nomination expressed their disappointment at the NCP meeting which was held at Ajit Pawar’s bungalow in Mumbai.
Sunetra Pawar before filing her nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections. (Express photo)
After filing her nomination papers, Sunetra Pawar however scotched all speculation about differences in the party.
”I had decided to contest the Baramati Lok Sabha election after the public and party workers’ demands… Similarly, I have decided to become Rajya Sabha MP because of the demand raised by the people,” she said. Ajit Pawar remained in the background.
Sunetra Pawar denied party leader Chhagan Bhujbal and her son Parth Pawar were upset with her nomination.
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“Nobody is upset in the party. The party leaders themselves unanimously took the decision to nominate me at a meeting yesterday. In fact, Chhagan Bhujbal himself was present while I was filing my nomination papers. He gave me best wishes… As for Parth, he himself had urged me to be the party’s official candidate for Rajya Sabha seat.
He told me that party workers are insistent I should file the nomination papers,” she said.
The NCP also denied that its alliance partners, BJP and Shiv Sena, were upset as none of their leaders were present when she filed her nomination papers. “We had not invited them but we had informed them. Why would they be upset ?” Tatkare asked.
NCP leaders Rupali Chakankar said the party’s top leaders like Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, Narhari Zirwal were present when she filed the nomination papers.
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Speaking to media persons after Sunetra filed her nomination papers, Bhujbal denied he was upset and said that a leader has to abide by the party’s decisions.
“I am not upset. While working in a political party you have to make collective decisions. Everything does not happen as per one’s wish… There were many aspirants but only one can get the nomination. I am not an independent that I will go by my wish. As a party worker, a party leader, one has to abide by the party’s decision. Sometimes the party faces some compulsions,” Bhujbal said.
Sunetra contested the high-profile Baramati Lok Sabha seat against her sister-in-law Supriya Sule but lost by a margin of over 1.55 lakh votes.
As Sunetra Pawar becomes MP, speculations are rife that the political tug-of-war over Baramati’s development will further intensify During the Lok Sabha elections, both Pawar camps fought a bitter battle, something which Baramati had never seen before. Both Sule and her sister-in-law have not been on talking terms. Even after the elections, neither have spoken to each other. “No, Sunetra Vahini has not congratulated me on my victory. I had sent her a text message but she did not respond,” Sule said on Wednesday.
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For months, Ajit Pawar had also not been on talking terms with Sule. She said he refused to take her phone calls regarding issues on Baramati’s development. During campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar had taken a jibe at Sule saying, ”What did the MP do for 15 years ?”
Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said Sunetra Pawar has been made MP by Ajit Pawar with an intention to further intensify the Baramati battle. “How else do you view her nomination? When she was defeated, Ajit Pawar is again desperately trying to ensure his wife’s victory. We might witness a verbal war in the coming days over Baramati’s development,” he said.
The NCP said some degree of bitterness is likely to persist. “It cannot be denied that there will be a political tug of war over Baramati’s development when two MPs are from the same area. However, it will be all for the good of Baramati as it might see more development as both leaders will go all out to outdo each other,” Tatkare said.
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