NEW DELHI: Maharashtra state president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sunil Tatkare announced first list of 38 candidates for NCP (AP) on Wednesday.
NCP chief and Maharashtra deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar, will contest from Baramati seat against his nephew Yugendra Pawar from Sharad Pawar faction.
Chhagan Bhujbal will contest from Yeola constituency.
The Baramati Seat
Interestingly, Baramati Lok Sabha seat, which has been a bastion of Sharad Pawar for decades who lost NCP and most of his MLAs to Ajit Pawar after the latter decided to join the Mahayuti alliance comprising BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to oust Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state.
In the recently-held Lok Sabha elections, Ajit fielded his wife Sunetra Pawar in Baramati against Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule.
Sharad Pawar won this battle hands down with Supriya Sule securing 51.85% of votes and Sunetra Pawar managing only 40.64%.
In fact, Sharad Pawar trumped his estranged nephew comprehensively winning 8 Lok Sabha seats, his best-ever performance in Maharashtra.
Reflecting on the poll outcome, Ajit Pawar had said one should not allow politics to enter home.
“I love all my sisters. One shouldn’t allow politics to enter homes. I made a mistake in fielding Sunetra against my sister. This shouldn’t have happened. But the parliamentary board (of NCP) made a decision. Now I feel it was wrong.”