Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar: Union Minister To Secure Dindori, BJP's Citadel Again (image: facebook.com/drbhartipawar/)

Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, initially belonged to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), shifted to the BJP ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls. In the polls, she fielded from Dindori constituency and won; the same seat in which she contested unsuccessfully as a NCP candidate in the 2014 elections. Bharati Pawar defeated NCP rival Dhanraj Mahale by a margin of 1,98,779 votes. By fielding Dr Pawar again from the Dindori seat, BJP is hoping to repeat victory and consolidate their position in north Maharashtra that has been bastion of BJP.

In 2021, when Modi government reshuffled the cabinet, Dr Bharati Pawar became first woman minister from Nashik district at the Union government. It was after 59 years, the Centre has picked a Minister from Nashik region. “Pawar’s induction in the Union ministry will send the right signal to the tribal and women voters who shape the destiny of the candidates in some of the Lok Sabha constituencies of the region,” the Times of India reports as a senior state BJP leader is saying. As a minister of State, Bharati Pawar handles the portfolios, Health and Family Welfare and Tribal Affairs.

Doctor-turned-politician Bharati Pawar”s political journey began as a member of the Zilla parishad. Besides being a politician, she serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, member of the Committee on Petitions, member of the Consultative Committee on Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. In 2019, she has received Best Women Parliamentarian Award from Lokmat Media Group. As a young parliamentarian her efforts for the upliftment for the Nashik district, for instance, reaching clean drinking water in the region, received praises. Aside from that, she has always been vocal on issues concerning farmers in the region.

Bharati Pawar is the daughter-in-law of eight-time MLA and former minister AT Pawar. Dindori constituency in Maharashtra is reserved for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. Since the formation of the parliamentary constituency, BJP maintains dominion in the election.