PUNE: Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Friday said his faction would contest Baramati, Shirur, Satara and Raigad Lok Sabha seats in the next general elections. Raigad MP Sunil Tatkare has sided with Ajit Pawar, while the MPs of the other three seats are with Sharad Pawar. A face-off between the two NCP factions is likely if Ajit, who has rebelled against his uncle to join the Shinde-led BJP government in Maharashtra, sticks to his stand.
Speaking at a two-day party session at Karjat, Ajit said Lok Sabha polls are likely to be declared in the first week of March, 2024.
Baramati, a Pawar family bastion, is represented by Sharad Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule. She won the last three Lok Sabha polls. When asked if he would field a candidate against his cousin, Ajit said: “Being party president, I have the right to announce the candidates. Who will contest against them that I can’t comment on.” Sule reacted saying in a democracy every party has the right to announce its candidates.
Apart from Baramati, Satara is represented by an old associate of Sharad Pawar, Shrinivas Patil, and Shirur by actor-turned-politician Amol Kolhe. Patil and Kolhe are said to be in the Sharad Pawar camp.
Addressing his supporters at a two-day party session in Karjat, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said: “Baramati, Satara, Shirur and Raigad seats are currently with our party and we will definitely contest these seats in the coming elections. Apart from these seats, there are some Lok Sabha seats in the state, which are with Uddhav Thackeray’s party, and after the discussion with our alliance partners, we will get some of those seats as well to contest.” His comments on the Baramati Lok Sabha seat are bound to set off speculation about the internal dynamics between the two factions. Even during the ‘Modi wave’ in 2014, Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule had managed to secure a win in Baramati, though with a narrow margin.
Speaking at a two-day party session at Karjat, Ajit said Lok Sabha polls are likely to be declared in the first week of March, 2024.
Baramati, a Pawar family bastion, is represented by Sharad Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule. She won the last three Lok Sabha polls. When asked if he would field a candidate against his cousin, Ajit said: “Being party president, I have the right to announce the candidates. Who will contest against them that I can’t comment on.” Sule reacted saying in a democracy every party has the right to announce its candidates.
Apart from Baramati, Satara is represented by an old associate of Sharad Pawar, Shrinivas Patil, and Shirur by actor-turned-politician Amol Kolhe. Patil and Kolhe are said to be in the Sharad Pawar camp.
Addressing his supporters at a two-day party session in Karjat, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said: “Baramati, Satara, Shirur and Raigad seats are currently with our party and we will definitely contest these seats in the coming elections. Apart from these seats, there are some Lok Sabha seats in the state, which are with Uddhav Thackeray’s party, and after the discussion with our alliance partners, we will get some of those seats as well to contest.” His comments on the Baramati Lok Sabha seat are bound to set off speculation about the internal dynamics between the two factions. Even during the ‘Modi wave’ in 2014, Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule had managed to secure a win in Baramati, though with a narrow margin.
