Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule claimed that “an invisible power from Delhi” was trying to create a rift in the Pawar family and Maharashtra politics, amid buzz that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar could be contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Baramati seat.
The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to take place in May-April next year. The Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP is part of the INDIA bloc, a grouping of 28 Opposition parties to take on the BJP-led NDA.
On being asked about the possibility of Sunetra Pawar or her son Parth contesting from Baramati, Sule told reporters at Malegaon in Baramati on Saturday, “An invisible power from Delhi is trying to create bitterness in our family and Maharashtra politics.”
“Neither I nor my family know who will be contesting against me. We are living in a democracy and someone is going to contest against me. I have won from Baramati thrice and I welcome anyone who is going to contest against me for the fourth time. Instead of copying and passing the exam, it is better to pass on merit. You all know who is triggering such speculations (about Sule versus Sunetra Pawar),” Sule added, as quoted by The Indian Express.
On a question about Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s statement that Ajit Pawar will become the Chief Minister when the opportunity arises, Sule said, “If that happens, I will request Devendra Fadnavis to give me an opportunity to be the first to garland Ajit dada… As a big brother, the BJP is making a big sacrifice. I want to thank the BJP for this sacrifice.”
Earlier too, in September, when asked about the possibility of Sunetra Pawar contesting from Baramati seat, Sule said, “I believe in democracy. Somebody will contest against me. Therefore, we should welcome such decisions with all strength.”
Sule, daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, is a three-time MP from Baramati Lok Sabha seat. Before becoming a Lok Sabha member, she was a Rajya Sabha MP.
Ever since Ajit Pawar broke ranks and caused a vertical split in the NCP to join hands with the BJP-Shinde alliance government in Maharashtra, speculations have been rife as to who will be fielded against Sule, who stood in support of her father Sharad Pawar.
The names of Sunetra and her son Parth are doing the rounds.