India
Maharashtra election results: Sharad Pawar’s bastion Baramati moves to Ajit Pawar | India News – Times of India
By afternoon, 65-year-old Ajit Pawar, often referred to as ‘Dada’, consolidated his position as Baramati’s political heir, defeating cousin Yugendra Pawar of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) by a decisive margin of 1,00,899 votes. .
The square was awash in pink – the color of Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction – as supporters marked it with deafening drums, a shower of flower petals and bicycle rallies through the streets. The celebrations deviated dramatically from the traditionally subdued tones associated with the Pawar family.
Baramati has been synonymous with the family since Sharad Pawar’s first election victory in 1967. His cousin Ajit continued that legacy from 1991 and won consistently. But the split in the NCP in 2023 divided loyalties between the factions led by 83-year-old Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, paving the way for these elections.
Ajit Pawar’s wife and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar attributed his victory to the loyalty of Baramati voters. “Baramatikars have shown that they are Dada’s real family,” she said.
Yet, amid the political shift, many residents yearn for unity within the Pawar family. Anganwadi teacher Meera Jadhav summed up this sentiment: “When people ask where we come from, we proudly say Baramati. They recognize it as the birthplace of Sharad Pawar. Look at our roads, schools, parks and hospitals – all this happened because Saheb and Dada worked together. We want the old days back, so we don’t have to choose.”
Outside Ajit Pawar’s office, jubilant supporters filled the streets. Just meters away, silence reigned over the NCP (SP) office, where defeat hung heavy in the air.
As Baramati stood at a crossroads and its future was determined by the evolving legacy of the Pawar family, many old-timers sought the hands that formed the ‘clock’ to work together.
