Mumbai: Even as campaigning seems to have commenced for a direct electoral fight between Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar and Supriya Sule in the crucial Baramati seat, the latter on Sunday said that her battle is ideological and not personal.
While, Supriya Sule, the three-time Baramati MP is Sharad Pawar's daughter; Ajit Pawar, the seven-time Baramati MLA and one-time Baramati MP is the nephew of the Maratha strongman.
In June-July 2023, Ajit Pawar staged a banner of revolt against his uncle and switched over to the BJP-led NDA camp to become the deputy chief minister for the fifth time and later also walked off with the party’s name NCP and the iconic clock symbol when he left with the greater number of party MLAs.
While Ajit Pawar is set to field Sunetra Pawar, it comes as a big challenge to Supriya Sule. “For me it is an ideological fight, there is nothing personal. Pawar Saheb has stood for a certain ideology and we are committed to it,” Sule said on Sunday.
"How can this be a (Pawar) family fight? Anyone can contest elections (from any place) in a democracy. I had said yesterday that if they have a strong candidate, then I am ready to talk to that candidate. Whatever topic, time, or place they decide, I am ready to sit down and discuss (the issues).”
Mobile vans (raths) of both Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar are traversing the length and breadth of the country.
Over the past two days, Ajit Pawar, without naming Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule, had launched a scathing attack on them and indicated that Sunetra Pawar may contest the Baramati seat.
(Published 18 February 2024, 12:53 IST)
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