Pawar Tussle In Baramati; A Fight For Pride (image-facebook/Sunetra Ajit Pawar,Supriya Sule)
Baramati constituency is known as the bastion of the ‘Pawar family’. This Lok Sabha election will be marked as the first-ever tussle within the Pawar family as the sitting MP and NCP (SP) candidate Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar has faced a challenge from Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar.
The elections in Baramati hold great importance as it is the only chance for each faction to establish their supremacy. The split in the NCP last year after Ajit Pawar with a large number of legislators joined the NDA had led to stiff tussle within the factions.
The constituency located in Pune, has been an NCP stronghold ever since the formation of the party in 1999. Sharad Pawar won the seat for the first time on an NCP ticket in 1999.
Notably, Supriya Sule has won from the constituency for three consecutive terms. She is now eyeing for her fourth win from the constituency. Maintaining the Pawar family’s stronghold despite the Modi wave, Supriya clinched the victory in the 2014 election.
However, the winning streak of Supriya Sule is at risk as she will have to face Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajith Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar.
Though the highest voter turnout percentage was in the Baramati assembly, there will be a large split of votes within two NCPs considering the voter”s loyalty towards both the Pawar”s.
The second highest voter turnout was recorded in the Indapur assembly segment and Sunetra Pawar is expected to have an edge as the sitting legislator is from the Ajit Pawar faction and the BJP leader Harshvrdhan Patil to extend support to the ally candidate.
While Sule is expected to get more edge in the Bhor assembly segment as the Congress legislator has put in efforts to garner votes.
Though Purander has sided more with Sule, Shiv Sena leader Vijay Shivtare”s support to Sunetra Pawar will have an adverse effect on the results.
The daund assembly segment has polled less than expected. Since the seat being represented by BJP legislator Rahul Kul, it is expected to have turned out helpful for Sule.
