They want ‘Pawar vs Pawar’ fight in Baramati in 2029 to end family’s legacy: Rohit Pawar
Rohit Pawar said no one in Baramati wants a “Pawar vs Pawar” contest in 2029, alleging some political groups are pushing it to weaken the family’s legacy. He commented amid ongoing bypolls and internal NCP factional tensions in Maharashtra
Pune: Leader Rohit Pawar on Thursday said nobody in Baramati wants to see a ‘Pawar versus Pawar’ battle there in the 2029 assembly polls, but some people aligned with the NCP appear to favour such a contest as they wish to finish the Pawar family’s legacy.
He was apparently targeting the BJP, which heads the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra and shares power with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The NCP is currently headed by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, who took over the reins of the party following the death of her husband Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in January.
Sunetra Pawar is in the fray as a Mahayuti candidate for the Baramati by-election, polling for which is underway on Thursday. Talking on the speculation over the possible battle between of late Ajit Pawar’s son Jay and his cousin Yugendra Pawar in Baramati in 2029, Rohit Pawar said, “Against the wishes of the people of Baramati, a Pawar vs Pawar contest took place in the (last) Lok Sabha and assembly polls.” “Tomorrow, if Jay contests from their party (NCP), then Yugendra Pawar from NCP (SP) could also be in the fray. In that scenario, a Pawar vs Pawar contest in Baramati may happen even if people do not wish for it,” he said after casting his vote in the Baramati bypoll.
Rohit, who represents the Karjat-Jamkhed assembly constituency in Ahilyanagar district, added that neither the Pawar family nor the people of Baramati want such a fight (between Pawars).
“But certain people aligned with Ajit dada’s party definitely want to see a Pawar vs Pawar contest in 2029. This alliance aims to finish the legacy built by (Sharad) Pawar saheb and Ajit dada here, which is why they are hoping for such a contest,” he claimed.
He said the final decision (about the Baramati seat) would be taken by the respective parties, but indicated that the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly poll pattern may not necessarily be repeated. In the last Lok Sabha election, Sunetra Pawar (NCP) fought against sitting MP Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) in Baramati. Sule won the election. Sunetra Pawar was later elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha.
In the November 2024 assembly polls, Ajit Pawar was challenged by his nephew Yugendra Pawar in Baramati. Ajit Pawar won the election with a massive margin of over one lakh votes. Rohit Pawar claimed that Ajit Pawar wanted to unite both the NCP factions.
“If Ajit dada was alive, the merger would have happened. Had it happened during his time, I can say with confidence that in 2029, he would have 100 per cent become the chief minister of the state,” he added.
Talking to reporters earlier, Jay Pawar, the younger son of Ajit and Sunetra Pawar, said, “There is a demand and wish among the people here that I should contest the assembly polls from Baramati in 2029, but I will continue to work as a party worker and serve the people.” Ajit Pawar’s younger brother Shrinivas Pawar, however, dubbed the comments made by both Rohit Pawar and Jay Pawar about the Baramati seat as “unwarranted”. “They have their respective views, but there is no need to talk about something that is happening in 2029,” he said.
