• Source:JND
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Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday announced that he will not contest any polls in the future as he is near to completing his Rajya Sabha tenure. Sharad Pawar's Rajya Sabha's Tenure will end in 2026.

"I have fought elections 14 times, and will think if I should detach or not from my parliamentary position after my Rajya Sabha tenure completes," said Sharad Pawar ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. His remark came when Pawar was in Baramati as part of the election campaign for his grandson Yugendra Pawar.

"I am not in power. I am in Rajya Sabha and the last one and a half years are left. I have already contested 14 elections, how many more shall I contest? Now I think the new generation should be given the opportunity. I will continue to do social work, especially for the rural and backward areas, the Adivasis. To continue this work I don't need any elections," said Sharad Pawar.

"I will not contest in Lok Sabha. I will not contest any election. So far I have contested 14 elections and you people have never let me go home during any election. Every time you have made me win the elections, so I should stop somewhere. A new generation should be brought in. I have not left social work, I do not want power but I have not stopped serving the people," he added.

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Sharad Pawar Recalls His Political Journey, Attacks BJP

Sharad Pawar recalled his political journey and stated that 30 years ago, he took a decision to do only national politics.

"30 years ago, I decided to do only national politics and gave all the responsibility of the state to Ajit Pawar and nearly for these 25 to 30 years responsibility of state has been with him. Now the arrangements have to be done for the next 30 years," he said.

Taking a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying those holding the power are not paying heed to the development of the state, Sharad Pawar alleged that several big projects that should have come to Maharashtra have moved to Gujarat.

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"Those in power are not focused on the state anymore. When I was in power, I considered the development of Pune. I knew that only agriculture wouldn't suffice. I don't know what magic this government has done. The Tata Airbus factory which was supposed to be in Nagpur, was shifted to Gujarat. A semiconductor factory, Vedanta Foxconn also moved to Gujarat. If you are only going to work for one particular state then why are you the Prime Minister, become the chief minister," he said.

"The government needs to change. There is no option without a change in power. We need a representative who will create more job opportunities," he added.

Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024

Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 will be held in one phase on November 20 and the results will be announced on November 23. Baramati, a stronghold of the Pawar family, will witness a family battle as seven-time MLA Ajit Pawar will face his nephew Yugendra Pawar.