The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): In a bold move, former Shiv Sena MLA Vijay Shivtare announced on Wednesday his intention to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election from the Baramati constituency in Maharashtra as an independent candidate. His campaign aims to serve as the “voice of common voters” in a region long dominated by the Pawar family of the NCP (SP).
The political landscape of Baramati, a stronghold of Sharad Pawar’s family, was recently stirred by speculation regarding the candidacy of MP Supriya Sule and potentially Sunetra Pawar, the wife of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Amidst this backdrop, Shivtare, who lost his Purandar assembly seat in 2019, remains steadfast in his commitment to challenge the status quo in Baramati as an independent voice.
Shivtare, expressing his allegiance to Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, asserted that he would explain his stance to his political mentor. Despite his controversial decision, he mentioned that no political leader has approached him regarding his candidacy.
Highlighting the electoral landscape, Shivtare pointed out the disparity in support for the Pawar family, with seven lakh votes cast in their favor versus 5.8 lakh votes against them in the last assembly and Lok Sabha elections. He criticized the concentration of development efforts in Baramati city, neglecting the broader needs of the constituency.
Particularly, Shivtare raised concerns about water scarcity in western Baramati’s Supa-Pargana area, contrasting it with the allocation of funds by Ajit Pawar for a Baramati bus stand, underscoring the uneven distribution of resources and development projects in the region.
Despite previous political setbacks, including a loss to Congress’s Sanjay Jagtap in 2019 and a pointed threat from Ajit Pawar, Shivtare exhibits a forgiving attitude and a resolute determination to represent the unvoiced constituents of Baramati. His independent candidacy underscores a challenge to the dynastic political dominance in the region, aiming to redirect focus towards inclusive development and representation.