In response to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s recent admission about his decision to field his wife Sunetra Pawar against his sister Supriya Sule in the Lok Sabha elections, NCP MP Praful Patel has chosen to stay out of the controversy. Patel described the issue as a personal family matter that does not warrant further comment from him.
Patel, when questioned by reporters, emphasised that Ajit Pawar’s remarks are related to his personal and family affairs. He stated that as a senior leader of the NCP and the party president, Pawar’s actions and statements are his own to handle, and it would be inappropriate for him to elaborate on the situation.
Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar also weighed in on the matter, suggesting that politics and personal family issues should remain separate. Kesarkar highlighted that while Ajit Pawar has his family responsibilities, as a political leader, he is also expected to focus on party victories and elections.
Ajit Pawar had earlier admitted his regret over the decision to field Sunetra Pawar against Supriya Sule in the Baramati constituency. He acknowledged that involving family in political contests can lead to complications and expressed that he felt his choice was a mistake. Despite the internal party decision, Pawar’s reflection on this choice came with an apology and acknowledgment of the personal ramifications.
The backdrop of this situation involves a split within the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, which led to Ajit Pawar’s faction nominating Sunetra Pawar as their candidate for Baramati. Supriya Sule, representing the rival faction, successfully retained her seat with a significant majority, securing over 1.55 lakh votes more than Sunetra Pawar.
The Baramati Lok Sabha seat saw Supriya Sule winning with 7,32,312 votes compared to Sunetra Pawar’s 5,73,979 votes. The voting for this seat took place during the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 7.