Lok Sabha elections 2024: All eyes on the west

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar. File pic/Shadab Khan

The conflict here matched the ferocity of war zones. Maharashtra's sugar belt that has mined top leaders ended its Lok Sabha campaign on Sunday. Baramati, now divided fiefdom of the Sharad Pawar family, saw the battle of battles between Supriya Sule, Pawar's daughter and Sunetra Pawar, his daughter-in-law and rival NCP faction chief, nephew Ajit Pawar's wife. The campaign culminated in front of the Baramatikars, who, too, were split between the last rallies held simultaneously in the state's most developed town near Pune. It turned out to be a great spectacle to be seen and a volley of allegations to be heard, as leaders from MVA and Mahayuti took turns to spit venom against each other. Baramati had never done so before Sunday, apart from holding ceremonial rallies on the closing day of the campaign that Sharad Pawar, Supriya and Ajit attended during their respective elections.

NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule

From Sharad Pawar's camp, his grandnephew Rohit Pawar led the charge against Ajit, marking the climax of yet another Chacha-Bhatija skirmish. Rohit broke down emotionally when he talked about his grandfather. Ajit dismissed it as a drama and listed achievements that according to him were his, not the uncle's or cousin's. Supriya charged up supporters taking down ‘dada' word by word, action by action. Sharad Pawar fought a throat infection while conveying that the individuals who threatened the people must be shown their place.

Western Maharashtra is political oxygen for both NCPs that have strong roots here. Once shared by the undivided NCP and Congress, the region tilted towards the BJP from 2014. Sharad Pawar did manage to win some of his seats, as the BJP and its partner undivided Shiv Sena surged ahead in the wake of Hindutva wave. BJP's straight fight against Congress yielded sound results, but it got mixed results against Pawar. With the BJP-triggered split, it is to be seen in this election whether Pawar's NCP has weakened and how much. Same applies to Ajit, who is fighting only four seats as against the uncle's 10 across Maharashtra. Polling for Ajit's three seats will be held on May 7. His fourth seat, also against the uncle's NCP, will go to polls on May 13. His two fights are against Shiv Sena (UBT). The battle of Baramati's result will be an indicator of what would come next.

Ajit Pawar with wife Sunetra

BJP's stakes in western Maharashtra, where PM Narendra Modi, held a record number of rallies, are very high. It has gone all out to retain the 2019 victories and gain the lost ones such as Satara. Sharad Pawar's political moves are said to be the driver for Modi's marathon campaign in western Maharashtra. In a way, it's at the core of the Modi vs Pawar fight.

Dharmendra Jore is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @dharmendrajore
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