Ajit Pawar Admits Error in Fielding Wife Sunetra Against Supriya Sule in Lok Sabha Elections
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/14th August 2024
Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has publicly acknowledged a significant mistake in his recent electoral strategy. In a revealing conversation on a Marathi news channel, Pawar conceded that his decision to have his wife, Sunetra Pawar, contest against his cousin Supriya Sule in the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency was a grave error. This admission came as a surprise to many, considering the high stakes of the electoral battle.
Supriya Sule, the daughter of NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) leader Sharad Pawar and a seasoned three-term Member of Parliament, emerged victorious with a decisive margin of 158,000 votes. Her win over Sunetra Pawar not only underscored her political clout but also highlighted the strategic blunder made by Ajit Pawar. The defeat in Baramati was compounded by additional setbacks for Ajit Pawar’s faction, as they also lost the Shirur constituency. Both these losses represented a significant blow in the politically influential western Maharashtra region.
Ajit Pawar, while speaking during his ‘Jan Samman Yatra,’ expressed regret over mixing family ties with political ambitions. He acknowledged that such decisions should be kept separate, stating, “Politics should not be allowed to enter the home. This is where I made a mistake. I should not have fielded Sunetra against my sister.” His reflection on this decision indicates a broader realization within his camp that the political strategy not only resulted in losses but also risked long-term voter loyalty.
The decision to field Sunetra Pawar was not solely made by Ajit Pawar; it was also endorsed by the party’s parliamentary board. However, in hindsight, Ajit Pawar admitted that this strategy was flawed. “You cannot do anything once an arrow is released from the bow. Now I feel it should not have happened,” he remarked. This admission points to a growing acknowledgment of the detrimental impact of internal party conflicts and family involvement in electoral decisions.
The loss in Baramati, a traditional stronghold of the Pawar family, has sparked concerns about Ajit Pawar’s leadership and his capacity to maintain the support of the NCP’s core voter base in western Maharashtra. Despite his influential role and efforts to garner support, the election results suggest a shift in voter sentiment, likely influenced by the party’s internal struggles and the involvement of family members in the political fray.
As Ajit Pawar continues his ‘Jan Samman Yatra’—a state-wide tour to promote various government welfare schemes—he faces the challenge of regaining his political footing. One of the key initiatives highlighted during the tour is the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ (MMLBY), which aims to provide financial aid to women across Maharashtra. This scheme proposes transferring Rs 1,500 monthly directly to the bank accounts of eligible women, thereby enhancing financial security for numerous families.
Ajit Pawar’s recent reflections and the lessons learned from the Baramati election will play a crucial role in shaping his future political strategy and the trajectory of the NCP in Maharashtra. The coming months will be pivotal in determining how this episode influences both his political career and the party’s standing in the state.
