• By Vivek Raj
  • Sat, 30 Mar 2024 08:57 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has officially declared Sunetra Pawar as its candidate for the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency. This announcement sets the stage for a direct contest within the Pawar family, as Sunetra Pawar will be pitted against Supriya Sule, the sitting MP from the same constituency and Sharad Pawar's daughter, as well as Ajit Pawar's estranged cousin.

The decision to field Sunetra Pawar was confirmed by Sunil Tatkare, the president of NCP's State unit, during a press conference in Mumbai. Sunetra Pawar expressed her gratitude for the nomination, describing it as a significant moment for her political journey.

She extended her thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar for their support and faith in her candidacy.

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Reacting to her nomination, Sunetra Pawar said, ”It is a lucky day for me…I want to thank the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Chief Minister and Deputy Chiefs besides other alliance partners for nominating me from Baramati Lok Sabha seat.”

Earlier in the day, the NCP, under Sharad Pawar's leadership, released its first list of candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Apart from Sunetra Pawar and Supriya Sule, the party announced candidates for five other constituencies in Maharashtra, including Wardha, Dindori, Shirur, and Ahmednagar.

Baramati has been a stronghold of the Pawar family for over 55 years, with Sharad Pawar initially winning the Maharashtra Assembly polls from the constituency in 1967. Supriya Sule has since succeeded him and has represented the seat since 2009.

As part of the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi, which includes Shiv Sena and the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) is set to contest 10 seats in Maharashtra out of the total 48 Lok Sabha constituencies.

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Among the notable candidates announced by the NCP are Amol Kolhe for Shirur, Bhaskar Bhagre for Dindori, and former Congress MLA Amar Kale for Wardha. The contest in Dindori is particularly noteworthy, with Bhagre set to challenge Union Minister Bharati Pawar, the incumbent BJP MP, for the seat.