Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has admitted yet again to his mistake of splitting from his uncle Sharad Pawar’s party. This latest acknowledgment comes as he attempts to stop his party leader’s daughter from joining his uncle’s faction and contest the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls against her father.
Dharmarao Baba Atram’s daughter Bhagyashree is reportedly considering switching to Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party and fighting from Aheri against her father.
Speaking at a public gathering in Gadchiroli on Friday, Ajit Pawar urged her not to quit the NCP led by him. “Do not make this mistake. Stay with your father. No one can love his daughter as much as a father does. By doing this, you will create a rift in your own house. Please do not break families. The public dislikes those who do that. I have experienced it too and accept my mistake,” he said.
Since splitting from Sharad Pawar’s NCP last year to align with the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar has frequently talking about his mistake. This introspection was triggered by the Ajit Pawar- led NCP’s poor show in the Lok Elections. His wife, Sunetra Pawar, also lost Baramati to Supriya Sule.
As voters overwhelmingly supported Sharad Pawar, and his faction won only one of the four contested seats, many in Ajit Pawar camp blamed him for the outcome. Some are even contemplating returning to their mentor.
Last month, Ajit Pawar conceded that it was a mistake to have his wife run against his sister and stressed that “one should not allow politics to enter home”.
“I love all my sisters. One shouldn’t allow politics to enter homes. I made a mistake in fielding Sunetra against my sister. This shouldn’t have happened. But the parliamentary board (of NCP) made a decision. Now I feel it was wrong,” Ajit Pawar told a Marathi news channel.
Meanwhile, Bhagyashree Atram-Halgekar has confirmed her intent to run from Aheri to The Times of India. She said, “My father had publicly declared that 2019 would be his last assembly election and that I would take over in 2024.”
In response to the potential electoral contest with his daughter, Atram said, “There is only one seat, and I have unsheathed my sword to defend my turf. Whether it’s my daughter, son-in-law, or any other family member, people should toss such people into the river.”
