Ajit Pawar Admits Mistake in Fielding Wife Sunetra Against Cousin Supriya Sule
Mumbai, 14th August 2024: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar openly admitted on a Marathi news channel that his decision to have his wife Sunetra Pawar run against his cousin Supriya Sule in the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency was a significant misstep.
Sule, a three-term MP and the daughter of NCP leader Sharad Pawar won the election decisively, defeating Sunetra Pawar by a substantial margin of 158,000 votes. This high-profile contest, which drew considerable state attention, resulted in a major setback for Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP. Along with losing the Baramati seat, Ajit Pawar’s faction also faced defeat in the Shirur constituency. Both constituencies, key to western Maharashtra’s political landscape, were secured by candidates from Sharad Pawar’s faction, reinforcing his influence over both the party and the region.
During his ongoing ‘Jan Samman Yatra’, Ajit Pawar expressed regret over mixing family matters with political decisions. “Politics should not intrude into personal relationships. This was my mistake. I should not have fielded Sunetra against my cousin,” he acknowledged. This reflection indicates a growing realization that the strategy not only resulted in the loss of seats but might also affect long-term voter loyalty.
Ajit Pawar explained that the decision to field Sunetra was not solely his but was approved by the party’s parliamentary board. Nevertheless, he conceded that in hindsight, it was an error. “Once an action is taken, it cannot be undone. I now believe it was a misjudgment,” he said.
The defeat in Baramati, a long-standing stronghold of the Pawar family, has sparked doubts about Ajit Pawar’s leadership and his ability to maintain the support of NCP’s traditional voter base in western Maharashtra. Despite his efforts and influence, the election results suggest a shift in voter sentiment, likely influenced by internal party conflicts and family involvement in the race.
As Ajit Pawar continues his ‘Jan Samman Yatra’ to promote state welfare schemes, he is highlighting initiatives such as the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ (MMLBY). This scheme aims to provide Rs 1,500 monthly directly to eligible women’s bank accounts, aiming to improve financial security for numerous families.
In the coming months, the implications of the Baramati election will be crucial in determining how this episode influences Ajit Pawar’s political trajectory and the future of the NCP in Maharashtra.
