When politics met food: Ajit Pawar savoured local flavours in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: In the narrow lanes of Gulmandi market in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, the aroma of the piping hot 'pakodas' and syrupy 'imartis' drew an unlikely visitor on a morning in 2018.

Ajit Pawar, then leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra assembly, stopped by with his cousin and parliamentarian Supriya Sule at a tiny shop to taste the local food.

Locals, who were initially sceptical whether the senior NCP politician would visit the modest market, found him not only relishing the snacks, but also asking about their ingredients and interacting with shopkeepers.

Gulmandi, where many freedom fighters lived, is also famous for sweets like 'imrati' and 'jalebi' and the spicy 'moong pakodas'.

Pawar and Sule had come for a programme here on October 9, 2018. The cousins visited the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum and paid tribute at the statue of Maratha warrior Jivaji Mahale, local NCP (SP) functionary Nilesh Raut told PTI.

Sule had the idea of having a local breakfast with her cousin.

Raut said he was doubtful whether Pawar would come to such a small place, but Sule assured that he would be there.

"We went to a shop where Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule sat on a small table and enjoyed imarti and pakodas," he recalled.

Pawar later also went around the area where these food items are made, interacted with the people working there and also asked about the ingredients.

He also met shopkeepers and visited the famous Supari Hanuman temple in the area, Raut added.