In a highly anticipated announcement ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has confirmed that he will be contesting from the Baramati constituency. The declaration was made by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) national working president Praful Patel during a press conference on Tuesday.
“I officially declare that our party chief will be the official candidate from Baramati. This is the first seat I am announcing,” Patel said, marking the beginning of the NCP’s campaign for the upcoming elections.
Ajit Pawar’s decision to run from Baramati, a stronghold of the Pawar family, comes amid a series of mixed electoral outcomes for his faction of the NCP. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Ajit Pawar-led faction managed to secure only one of the four seats they contested. The loss of the prestigious Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, where Ajit Pawar’s cousin Supriya Sule triumphed with a large margin over her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar, raised concerns within the party and cast doubt on Ajit Pawar’s prospects in his traditional stronghold.
Reflecting on this loss, Ajit Pawar acknowledged that fielding his wife, Sunetra, against his sister, Supriya Sule, was a strategic miscalculation. “It was a mistake to bring politics into the family,” he admitted in a recent interview, hinting that family dynamics had complicated the contest. He had earlier stirred speculation by publicly stating that he had “no desire” to contest from Baramati, which fueled rumors that his son, Jay Pawar, might be the candidate for the seat.
There was also talk of Ajit Pawar exploring other constituencies, such as Hadapsar and Shirur, for the assembly elections. However, with the confirmation that he will stand from Baramati, political discussions have now shifted to the possibility of a contest within the Pawar family itself. Reports suggest that Sharad Pawar, the party’s patriarch, could field another family member to run against Ajit, with Yugendra Pawar emerging as a potential candidate. This could set the stage for a high-profile contest between uncle and nephew, adding another layer of intrigue to the already competitive race.
The Baramati seat holds significant symbolic and political value for the NCP, and Ajit Pawar’s decision to contest from his home turf is expected to energize the party’s supporters. However, the internal dynamics within the Pawar family and the evolving political landscape in Maharashtra could make this one of the most closely watched battles in the state assembly elections.
With the political stakes high, the outcome of the Baramati contest will likely shape the future of the NCP and its leadership structure, making it a key race to follow in the upcoming elections.