Pune: Ajit Pawar’s Announcement Fuels Speculation of Jay Pawar vs. Yugendra Pawar in Baramati

Pune, 16th August 2024: Ajit Pawar made a statement in Pune yesterday, stating that he has no interest in contesting from the Baramati constituency in the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Elections. He also mentioned that if local activists demand it and the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) parliamentary board agrees, his son, Jay Pawar, could be a candidate from Baramati. This has sparked widespread speculation across Maharashtra, with many anticipating a potential contest between Jay Pawar and his cousin, Yugendra Pawar, for the Baramati seat.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was in Pune yesterday for an Independence Day program, during which he interacted with media representatives. When asked about the activists’ demand for Jay Pawar’s nomination from Baramati, Ajit Pawar stated that he currently has no interest in contesting from Baramati. He further clarified that if there is a demand from local activists and the NCP’s parliamentary board decides so, Jay Pawar may get the opportunity to contest from Baramati.

NCP’s Maharashtra State President, Sunil Tatkare, clarified the matter, stating, “The upcoming Legislative Assembly Elections will be fought under Ajit Pawar’s leadership from Mahayuti. When an election is contested under a leader, that leader is also expected to contest. I am not sure what prompted Ajit Pawar’s statement, but as a member of the Parliamentary Board and State President, I believe Ajit Pawar will be in the Legislative Assembly election race.”

Ajit Pawar also stated, “I have contested from Baramati seven to eight times and got elected. Based on public opinion, the NCP’s parliamentary board will decide who to field as the candidate from Baramati, and we will accept their decision.”

If Jay Pawar contests the election from Baramati, discussions have begun about where Ajit Pawar might contest. Rohit Pawar, the incumbent MLA and Ajit Pawar’s nephew from the Karjat-Jamkhed constituency has alleged that there is pressure on him to run from this seat again. Rohit Pawar remarked that a capable leader has become a scapegoat after Ajit Pawar left Sharad Pawar’s support and aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This has led to speculation about whether there will be a contest between uncle and nephew in Karjat-Jamkhed.