An MLC from Ajit Pawar’s NCP on Wednesday indicated that the Mahayuti did not work together in the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, which was retained by sitting MP Supriya Sule who was up against sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar. In another significant development, meanwhile, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar will be skipping the NDA meeting at 4 pm, sources said.
Calling Baramati a “humiliating defeat, NCP (AP) spokesperson Amol Mitkari said: “Our alliance partners didn’t work for us. Baramati is a humiliating defeat. Anybody will feel upset with this defeat… We have a party meeting on Friday and I will raise this issue.”
Overcoming the challenge posed by her estranged cousin, Sule registered a resounding victory in the NCP bastion, winning by more than 1.55 lakh votes. She triumphed over Sunetra Pawar, who is Ajit Pawar’s wife and a political debutante, in the battle that had become the most high-profile contest in the state.
Sule polled 7,32,312 votes while Sunetra garnered 5,73,979 votes. Her cousin Ajit rebelled against her father Sharad Pawar last year and split the party, but is also known to enjoy a lot of support in Baramati; hence, many political observers had said she will find it difficult to win the fourth consecutive term.
Wife’s loss a setback for Ajit Pawar?
For Ajit, his wife’s defeat could prove to be a major political setback especially as it comes straight after his rebellion and right ahead of the assembly elections scheduled for sometime later this year. His son Parth Pawar had also lost as the candidate of the undivided NCP from the Maval constituency in the 2019 general elections.
The high-octane Baramati contest had members of the Pawar family trading barbs. Both factions did not leave any stone unturned as Sharad Pawar reached out to voters himself, while Ajit held numerous public meetings.
Sule led in almost all assembly segments — Baramati, Indapur, Daund, Bhor and Purandar. Workers of the NCP (SP) started celebrating her win much before the result was officially announced.
“I am thankful to the people of Baramati. After the victory, our collective responsibilities have increased. Let bygones be bygones. Whatever happened during the elections did not befit Maharashtra’s politics and it should be avoided in the upcoming state elections, and for that we will take utmost precaution,” she said.
She further said it was everyone’s responsibility to uphold the aan, baan, shaan (honour, pride and prestige) and culture of Maharashtra during elections. “We upheld that tradition in these elections and will continue to uphold it in the upcoming elections,” she said, adding that the workers who stood by her father in this critical phase were the party’s real strength.
(With PTI inputs)
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