Ajit Pawar pits wife against estranged cousin Supriya Sule for Baramati Lok Sabha seat

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has fielded his wife Sunetra Pawar from Baramati against his estranged cousin Supriya Sule, making it one of the hotly contested Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

The announcement was made on March 30 amidst days of intense speculation.

Ajit Pawar's faction NCP leader Sunil Tatkare called the contest a "clash of ideologies" rather than a mere family feud.

"This is a lucky day for me. I thank Narendra Modiji, Amit Shah, and all leaders of Mahayuti (Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP) for considering me capable of fighting the election," Sunetra Pawar told a Marathi news channel, according to PTI news agency.

"Voters have taken the fight in their hands," she said when asked about facing off with Supriya Sule.

Baramati is considered the stronghold of the Pawar family, with Sharad Pawar winning the Maharashtra Assembly polls from Baramati for the first time in 1967.

Later, Supriya Sule took the baton and has been representing the seat since 2009.

Even before Sunetra Pawar's name was formally announced, she had started campaigning and meeting various social groups, according to PTI news agency.

To guard his home turf, Sharad Pawar recently visited the family of Congress legislator Sangram Thopte and met his father Anantrao Thopte, an old rival.

NCP (SP), part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), also comprising Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, will contest 10 seats in Maharashtra, which sends 48 members to Lok Sabha.

(With PTI inputs)

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