Pawar parivar gathers on Diwali in family stronghold of Baramati

The closely-knit Pawar-parivar gathered at Baramati in Pune district for their annual family rendezvous coinciding with the Diwali festivities with Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule and Ajit Pawar seen in one frame with other members of the family. 

Baramati is the stronghold of the Pawars - with the family being involved in politics, business, industries, agriculture, cooperatives, education, social work and so on - and they are credited with its transformation over the last five to six decades.  

This was the first family get-together after the 25-year-old NCP underwent a break-up in June-July this year. 

The Pawar-family keeps their political ideologies, business and professional interests and personal relations separate. 

The 82-year-old Sharad Pawar, the family patriarch, and his wife Pratibha Pawar, greeted and blessed the members of the big clan amid the Diwali celebrations.

While Sharad Pawar, the founder-President of NCP, is part of the INDIA-opposition alliance, Ajit Pawar (64) walked out of his uncle’s umbrella to become the Deputy Chief Minister for the record fifth time after switching over to the rival NDA-camp. 

On 10 November, the family gathered at Baner in Pune at the residence of Sharad Pawar’s younger brother Prataprao Pawar, the owner of Sakal Media Group, over lunch, to celebrate the latter’s birthday. After this family meet, Ajit Pawar, who is the National President of NCP-faction led by him, accompanied by party’s Working President Praful Patel and Maharashtra unit President Sunil Tatkare called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi - leading to speculations. 

Ajit Pawar recently suffered from a dengue infection and had stayed away from official engagements. 

On 14 November, coinciding with BaliPratipada-Diwali Padwa, the Pawar-family, as per their annual custom, met at Govindbaug in Baramati. 

Sharad Pawar, his daughter party’s Working President Supriya Sule, who is the three-term Baramati MP and Ajit Pawar, the seven-time Baramati MLA, were present for the get-together in the evening. 

The nephew, however, had skipped the morning event, when well-wishers across the state come and greet Sharad Pawar. 

In an Instagram post, Supriya Sule put photos of the family get-together. 

“Blessed! Embracing the beauty of our traditions with pride…Baramati,” she wrote. 

On 15 November, Sharad Pawar, Pratibha Pawar and Supriya Sule visited Ajit Pawar at the latter’s residence in Katewadi. Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar and their sons Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar  were present as they celebrated Bhau Bheej.