NEW DELHI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday explained his decision to part ways with his uncle and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder, Sharad Pawar, citing pressure from party MLAs who wanted to join the Eknath Shinde government. The split, which occurred in July last year, saw Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs align with the ruling coalition, a move he justified as necessary to restart stalled development projects.
Addressing a campaign rally in Baramati ahead of the November 20 assembly polls, Ajit Pawar sought to clarify his position. “You might think I abandoned Pawar saheb at this age. I didn’t leave him. The MLAs believed joining the government was essential to resume multiple development works approved during the Maha Vikas Aghadi regime but were on hold,” he said, emphasizing that the MLAs had formally endorsed the move.
NCP symbol split adds to election complexity
Following the split, the Election Commission granted Ajit Pawar’s faction the original NCP name and its ‘clock’ symbol, while Sharad Pawar’s group was designated as NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) with the ‘man blowing tutari’ symbol. The upcoming assembly elections pit Ajit Pawar against Yugendra Pawar, a candidate from Sharad Pawar’s faction.
An appeal for Baramati’s future
Ajit Pawar, who has represented Baramati since 1991, urged the constituency to support him, highlighting his past contributions to the region’s development. “In the last Lok Sabha polls, you supported Pawar saheb and Supriya Sule. Now, I ask for your support. I will share my vision tomorrow; it’s up to you to decide for future generations,” he said, underscoring the stakes in this contest.
Baramati, a stronghold of the Pawar family, witnessed a key battle during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when Supriya Sule defeated Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, by a significant margin. This assembly election intensifies the family rivalry, with both factions vying for dominance in the constituency.