Supriya Sule springs a surprise, visits Ajit Pawar’s family home amid voting in Baramati

Baramati MP Supriya Sule said she visited Ajit Pawar’s family home to meet his mother, her aunt. The BJP and NCP were quick to dismiss the visit as an ‘emotional tactic’ and a bid to ‘confuse voters’.

Supriya Sule springs a suprise, visits Ajit Pawar's family home amid voting in Baramati. (Express Photo)

Lending a twist to the high-voltage and bitter fight for the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra on polling day, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidate and sitting MP Supriya Sule on Tuesday sprung a surprise by visiting the family home of her estranged cousin and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Katewadi. The BJP and the NCP were quick to dismiss the visit as an “emotional tactic” and a bid to “confuse voters”.

While Ajit Pawar and his wife Sunetra, who is contesting against Sule, were not present at the residence, Sule met her aunt and Ajit’s mother Ashatai Pawar. “I had come to meet my kaaki (aunt) and not anyone else. It is our house…The house belongs to my kaaki and kaaka (uncle) and I have been coming here regularly. I met my kaaki and took her blessings,” Sule said after spending a few minutes at the residence.

Sule’s close associates said she enquired about Ashatai’s health and both looked at ease.

Sule’s visit to Ajit Pawar’s family home assumes significance as two days ago, Ajit’s elder brother Shriniwas Pawar had mentioned to a TV channel that Ashatai was upset with Ajit and had left his residence.

Commenting on Sule’s visit, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “Both Ajit Pawar and Sule are siblings, they are not enemies and there was nothing to object about her visit…But it is clearly an emotional tactic.”

“I have just learnt from the media that Supriya Sule had visited the family home of Ajit Pawar. Ashatai has been at his residence for the last one-and-a-half months. It is an attempt to confuse the voters,” NCP spokesperson Amol Mitkari said.

As Baramati went to polls on Tuesday, Ajit Pawar too tried to make a strong statement by arriving at the Katewadi Zilla Parishad school polling centre with his wife Sunetra and mother Ashatai, who was otherwise absent throughout the campaigning period. Ajit Pawar held her hand and led her to the polling booth. “It was an attempt to show that his mother was very much staying with him and was not upset,” an NCP leader said. Mobbed by the media, it nearly took 10 minutes for Ajit Pawar to cast his vote.

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NCP (SP) national president Sharad Pawar and his daughter Sule arrived at the Malegaon polling booth, which is outside the limits of the Baramati municipal council, at around 9 am to cast their votes. Pawar, who was advised a day’s rest, cast his vote and left without speaking to the media. Sule and other family members then voted at the Remand Home polling centre where she was mobbed by the media.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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Baramati constituency