This is an archive article published on May 4, 2024
Supriya Sule to voters: If you are being threatened, direct these calls to me, I will deal with them
Without naming Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar or his alliance partners, Sule told voters that if they get threat calls, they should direct them to her and she will take care of them.
Supriya with Sharad Pawar in Varvand on Saturday. (Express File Photo)
JUST LIKE her two-wheeler rally which became the cynosure of all eyes in Baramati city on Friday, Supriya Sule, candidate of NCP (SP), had a huge crowd’s attention glued to her at a rally in Varvand area of Daund taluka on Saturday afternoon as she warned her political opponents that ”she will deal with them” if they did not budge from allegedly intimidating the voters.
Without naming Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar or his alliance partners, Sule told voters that if they get threat calls, they should direct them to her and she will take care of them. ”If you are getting threatening calls, direct them to me…I will deal with them,” she said
Sule said she heard that people who keep their favourite leaders as their WhatsApp status were being threatened. “If you get calls or people are coming to your residence to threaten you, direct them to me or ask them to contact me, I will deal with them…You should not fear, keep the WhatsApp status of whoever you want. We will not allow them (rivals) to dictate terms to us…We will not allow our democracy to be destroyed this morning,” she said.
Later, when asked whether her reference was to Ajit Pawar, Sule said she has made it clear that her political opponents were resorting to such tactics. “Everyone knows who is trying to intimidate the voters,” she said as The Indian Express followed her on a campaign trail.
Despite the blistering heat, over 10,000 people had turned up for Sule’s rally. NCP (SP) national chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav, who came all the way from Konkan, former minister Rajesh Tope, who came from Jalna, Congress leader Balasaheb Shivarkar and Rohit Pawar were among those present at the rally.
Notwithstanding the presence of the bigwigs, including her father, Sule clearly stole the show as she interacted with the crowd rather than resorting to a monologue. Everytime she threw a poser, someone from the crowd responded readily. “Do you know how many times I have visited Daund and how many times they (rivals) have in the last few months?” A youngster raised his hand and quickly replied that her rivals (read Ajit Pawar-Sunetra Pawar) have not visited even once.
Turning to Ajit Pawar over his constants, Sule said, “Some people are taunting me by saying that merely giving speeches won’t ensure the development of Baramati. But I want
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to strongly assert that development takes place not only by delivering speeches… because we are living in a democracy and not dictatorship.”
Sena leader Bhaskar Jadhav had a word of advice for Sule. “Supriyatai calls Ajit Pawar as dada..he is no more a dada…He only listens to the diktats of his Delhi bosses,” he said.
After her much-talked about rally on Saturday, the Sule Camp looked gung-ho. They were out in big numbers, trying to take the “tutari,” the party symbol, to the citizens. ”Supriyatai brought the city to a standstill yesterday. We never thought there would be such a terrific response,” said an NCP (SP) leader.
At Govindbaug residence of the Pawars on Malegaon Road, there was a flurry of activity. Party leaders could be seen moving in and out. But Sule was busy giving interviews to the media, a day before the campaigning ended.
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Amidst her busy schedule, Sule told The Indian Express that she was not worried one bit about her victory. “I know people of Baramati have full faith in my ability to raise their expectations…I am a proven candidate, have always been at their beck and call,” she said.
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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