It’s Ajit and family versus the rest of the Pawar clan, as brother too chooses uncle Sharad

Others with political stakes, including the family of Pawar's eldest and younger brother, are backing Sharad Pawar's Supriya Sule in the tough battle she faces in Baramati

For Ajit, the fight is important to cement his place in the ruling NDA alliance, and to put him in contention for the CM’s post. Despite his age, Sharad Pawar remains very much in the fight. File photo

For the first time since 1968, when Sharad Pawar first contested from the seat, Baramati is set to witness a first-of-its-kind Pawar versus Pawar battle.

The latest fissure in the “first family of Baramati” came after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s elder brother, Sriniwas Pawar, publicly slammed him last week for “deserting our 84-year-old uncle”. Sriniwas also declared that he, and his wife and son were with cousin Supriya Sule, the sitting Baramati MP and Pawar senior’s daughter, who could be facing Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra from the seat.

Sriniwas told The Indian Express: “The BJP wants to finish off Sharad Pawar politically. They are behind the split in the party and the Pawar family. Ajit must remember that he became Deputy CM of Maharashtra four times because of Sharad Pawar, who let him have the reins of the party in the state while he was in Delhi.”

Also Read | In Supriya Sule vs Sunetra Pawar fight for Baramati, NCP camps guard against own allies

The siding of Sriniwas with the Sharad Pawar faction further cements the impression of Ajit’s “isolation” within the family — something he himself talked about recently.

While Ajit and Sriniwas’s two sisters are politically neutral, the others with Sharad Pawar include Ajit’s cousin Rajendra Pawar, his son Rohit, the sitting Karjat-Jamkhed MLA. Rajendra’s wife Sunanda and daughter Saee also back Pawar senior. Rajendra is the son of Appasaheb Pawar, Sharad Pawar’s elder brother, who is no more.

Appasaheb Pawar’s other son Ranjeet Pawar keeps away from politics.

In Ajit’s corner appear to be only his immediate family – wife Sunetra and sons Parth and Jay. Last month, he suggested he was not intimidated by this, saying: “The division in our family is clear. Apart from my immediate family, there is a possibility of everyone else being against me. But I am sure my supporters will stand by me,” he said.

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If the Sule and Sunetra face-off happens, the real fight would be between Ajit and uncle Sharad Pawar. For Ajit, the fight is important to cement his place in the ruling NDA alliance, and to put him in contention for the CM’s post. Despite his age, Sharad Pawar remains very much in the fight. “Ajun mhatara zhalo nahi (I am not yet done),” he said recently.

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