PUNE: The passage of time seemed momentarily suspended at Bhigwan Chowk, Baramati‘s political epicentre as the constituency stepped into a new chapter on Saturday, with Tennyson’s words echoing powerfully: “The old order changeth, yielding place to new…”
By noon, 65-year-old Ajit Pawar, often referred to as ‘Dada’, cemented his position as Baramati’s political heir, defeating nephew Yugendra Pawar of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) by a decisive margin of 1,00,899 votes.
The square was awash in pink – the colour of Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction – as supporters marked it with deafening drums, a shower of flower petals, and bike rallies through the streets. The celebrations departed dramatically from the traditionally subdued tones associated with the Pawar family.
Baramati has been synonymous with the family since Sharad Pawar’s first electoral victory in 1967. His nephew Ajit carried forward that legacy from 1991, winning consistently. But the 2023 split in NCP divided loyalties between the factions led by 83-year-old Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, setting the stage for this election.
Ajit Pawar’s wife and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar attributed his victory to the loyalty of Baramati voters. “Baramatikars have shown they are Dada’s true family,” she said.
Yet, amid the political shift, many residents yearn for unity within the Pawar family. Anganwadi teacher Meera Jadhav captured this sentiment: “When people ask where we’re from, we proudly say Baramati. They recognise it as Sharad Pawar’s hometown. Look at our roads, schools, parks, and hospitals – all of this happened because Saheb and Dada worked together. We want the old days back so we don’t have to choose.”
Outside Ajit Pawar’s office, jubilant supporters filled the streets. Just meters away, silence blanketed the NCP (SP) office, where defeat hung heavily in the air.
As Baramati stood at a crossroads, its future shaped by the Pawar family’s evolving legacy, many old-timers sought the hands that shaped the ‘clock’ to work together.