Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Thursday said that it is for his party to decide whether his son Jai Pawar will contest elections from Baramati assembly constituency or not. Ajit Pawar, who has been contesting from Baramati seat for a long time, said that he is no longer interested in contesting the elections. However, after this Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare said that Ajit Pawar did not say that he will not contest the upcoming assembly elections.
Actually, while talking to journalists, Ajit Pawar was answering the question whether Jai would be fielded from Baramati as per the demand of his supporters. “This is democracy. I have no interest in it (contesting elections) because I have contested seven or eight elections. If people and supporters think so, then the (NCP) parliamentary board will discuss it,” he said.
Ajit Pawar further said that if the parliamentary board and people feel that Jai should be fielded, then NCP is ready to field him.
It is noteworthy that his elder son Parth Pawar had contested the elections from Maval Lok Sabha seat in 2019, but lost by a huge margin. Asked whether he would celebrate Rakshabandhan with his cousin and rival NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, Ajit said he is currently on a tour of the state and will meet all his sisters at some place. He said, “If Supriya Sule is at the place where I am, I will meet her.”
He also tried to dismiss media reports about differences between him and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and said that the two are working together successfully. The women of the state are happy to receive the first installment of Rs 1,500. Pawar said that under the ‘Girl Sister’ scheme, money has been deposited in the accounts of 35 lakh women.
When asked whether it was a mistake to field his wife Sunetra against Supriya Sule in the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, Pawar said he had already talked about it. He said, “I am not a person who comments on anyone. I say whatever comes to my mind and there is no need for any kind of criticism in it.”
On the other hand, Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare claimed that Ajit Pawar did not say that he would not contest the upcoming elections. Tatkare told reporters, “Ajit Pawar has not said that he will not contest the elections. He may have some plans. We want to win as many seats as possible.”
Let us tell you that NCP (SP) MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed and grandson of Sharad Pawar, Rohit Pawar had recently claimed that someone from the family who is close to Ajit Pawar can be fielded against him. “The Mahayuti (alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP) is going to field a candidate in my constituency to divide the votes. It was speculated that Ajit Pawar would be forced to field someone from the family against Supriya Sule,” he said. There was pressure. Now, a similar strategy is being made in my assembly constituency.”