11 June,2024 06:27 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Sharad Pawar/ File Pic
On Tuesday, a number of NCP (SP) workers asked party head Sharad Pawar to run his grand nephew Yugendra in Baramati, an assembly constituency held by rival NCP chief and Maharashtra deputy head Minister Ajit Pawar.
The poll in the Pawar family's stronghold has sparked interest because Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra, lost to incumbent MP and Sharad Pawar's daughter, Supriya Sule, in the Lok Sabha fight. Yugendra is the son of Ajit Pawar's younger brother, Srinivas Pawar. During the Lok Sabha elections, Srinivas backed Sharad Pawar and chastised Ajit for fielding Sunetra against Sule, sparking an inside family feud.
A video of Sharad Pawar arriving in Baramati on Tuesday shows party workers begging him to endorse Yugendra. One worker indicated a wish to "change" the 'dada' (older brother), which referred to both Ajit and Yugendra.
"It is our wish that dada (Yugendra Pawar) should be given candidature," a party worker said, while another worker asked Pawar senior to "give Yugendra strength" as they supported him.
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Another worker praised Yugendra's efforts during the Lok Sabha elections 2024, notably in tackling water scarcity issues in Baramati, and proposed that he be awarded the ticket from Baramati. Sharad Pawar visited drought-stricken portions of the constituency and attended a 'janata darbar' hosted by Yugendra at the local NCP (SP) office.
"Looking at his work during the Lok Sabha elections, he should be given a ticket from Baramati," said the worker.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Sharad Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president, ordered his party workers to prepare for the Maharashtra Assembly elections later this year, asserting that they will return to power in the state, according to ANI.
On the occasion of the celebration of the 25th foundation day, Sharad Pawar while addressing his party workers, said, "Today I just want to say that in the last 25 years, we tried to spread out ideologies that will take the part ahead ...since elections are nearby, it is our collective responsibility to work towards the aim to work so that the power of the state will be in your hands after poll results," as reported by ANI.
