Bengaluru (Aryavarth): In the lead-up to the Lok Sabha elections in Baramati, tensions within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) surfaced publicly. Sharad Pawar, the NCP patriarch, responded to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s campaign efforts for his wife, Sunetra Pawar, by highlighting a division between “original” and “outsider” family members.
Ajit Pawar had appealed to voters in Baramati to support his wife, stating, “This time elect the daughter-in-law (Sunetra Pawar),” positioning her against his cousin Supriya Sule, a current MP and Sharad Pawar’s daughter. Sunetra and Sule are competing for the same seat, intensifying family and political rivalries.
Addressing Ajit Pawar’s remarks, Sharad Pawar differentiated between his daughter and his niece-in-law, noting, “One is the original Pawar (referring to daughter Sule) and the other Pawar is coming from outside.” This comment underscored the familial and political complexities within the Pawar family.
Sharad Pawar also disputed Ajit’s claim that his cousins had not supported him in past campaigns, asserting that family members have actively participated in promoting each other’s political endeavors. Furthermore, he dismissed concerns about potential disclosures from Ajit that could embarrass the family, indicating confidence in the public’s familiarity with his relative’s political and personal reputation. The ongoing internal dynamics within the NCP highlight the intertwining of family loyalty and political strategy as the election approaches.