'Saheb created split in family': Ajit Pawar attacks uncle Sharad Pawar ahead of Maharashtra election

On November 23, 2019, Ajit Pawar took oath as a deputy CM to Devendra Fadnavis in the wee hours.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar accused his uncle Sharad Pawar of creating a split in the family.

“I previously admitted to making a mistake, but it seems like others are now making errors too. My family and I had agreed to file the form in Baramati first, but that didn't happen. Despite the challenges, we managed to improve the situation,” the 60-year-old NCP leader said at a rally after filing nomination from Baramati.

Ajit Pawar split from the NCP to join the ruling Mahayuti in July last year. During the Lok Sabha elections, he fielded his wife, Sunetra Pawar, against cousin Supriya Sule from the Baramati parliamentary constituency. In the assembly elections, Pawar is up against the grandson of Sharad Pawar, Yugendra Pawar. The deputy CM has been an MLA from Baramati since 1991.

“I will win in Baramati with a good number of votes. Everyone has the right to contest elections. I made a mistake by fielding my wife Sunetra Pawar in the Lok Sabha. Now, Sharad Pawar (group) has made the same mistake by fielding Yugendra,” said the deputy CM.

He said it was his mistake to field his wife against Sule in the Lok Sabha polls. “It was our mistake. This time he (Sharad Pawar) has made this mistake… Now, the people of Baramati will decide. Yugendra Pawar has been made the candidate. That is their right, but he (Sharad Pawar) should not have done this,” he said.

Yugendra is the son of Ajit Pawar’s younger brother Shrinivas Pawar. “My mother even advised that they (Sharad Pawar faction) should not nominate anyone against Ajit Pawar. But, I was told that Saheb (Sharad Pawar) instructed someone to file a nomination against me… he created a split in the family…politics should not be brought to such a low level because it takes generations to be united but it doesn’t take a single moment to break the family,” said Pawar.

He was also confident of winning the election and said that the no continuing scheme would be shut, as it is for the benefit of people.

Referring to the development work in his constituency, Pawar said, “Some people question development work done in Baramati, this doesn't mean development by making roads and even building schools does not mean development. I need to understand what is development and what should be done so that we can say this development, ... I understand you have a right to speak ......but, what you say is not understandable."