Pune: Of the four seats in Pune district, Baramati Lok Sabha seat is going to witness the most tough fight. The poll heat has already reached a crescendo in this prestigious seat.
The reason is not far to seek. It is a battle which is being termed as Pawar versus Pawar.
It is being fought for the first time. Two Pawars never came face to face in a poll battle and especially in the terrain of Baramati which is called as their citadel, fort and bastion.
And who is fighting whom ? Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP national president Sharad Pawar is taking on her own sister-in-law or Vahini as Sunetra Pawar is called all over Baramati.
And who is Sunetra Pawar. Sunetra Pawar is the wife of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Ajit Pawar heads the divided NCP. Ajit Pawar himself is a MLA from Baramati assembly constituency.
Ajit Pawar has warned people of Baramati that if they did not back the candidate of his choice in the Lok Sabha election, then development of Baramati will be pegged back. He has made it clear to the MLAs in Baramati constituency that if they do not put in hard work and their constituencies did not vote en mass for Sunetra Pawar, then they are chances of getting ticket in assembly elections are dim.
Though she is not used to giving speeches, political observers say Ms Sunetra Pawar has covered a lot of ground and his addressing rallies and interacting people like a seasoned politicians. ”She seemed to be a confident candidate,” said a Baramatikar.
Supriyatai Sule on the other has her father, Sharad Pawar, leading her campaign from the front. Ms Sule actually has already been campaigning. Mr Pawar is known for sharing a close rappor with people of Baramati. Small wonder then, he has won the elections for 14 times from Baramati.
Ms Supriyatai Sule has complained that Ajit Pawar, who is Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, does not take her call and address the problems of Baramatikars. ”Chief Minister Eknath Shinde takes my call, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis takes my call but Ajit Pawar does not take my call,” she has lamented.
Ms Sule is contesting for the fourth time. In the past three elections, except for an initial round scare from Mahadev Jankar of RSP, Ms Sule has won Baramati seat with absolute comfortable margin. ”Tai has remained invincible in Baramati. She slogs very hard for the constituency and the people of Baramati. She has been at the beck and call of the people of Baramati 24 X 7,” says Satish Pawar, secretary of Ms Supriyatai Sule.
Both Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar are not running down each. Both of them are maintaining decency and not used harsh words against each other. ”Though the battle is tough, both Baramati candidates are nice, polite and decent. There is no use of harsh or insulting words against each. I think other candidates in Maharashtra should learn from both Sunetra Vahini and Supriya tai,” said Babu Nair, a Congress politician.
