Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday (August 15) said he was “not interested” in contesting elections any more. The remarks came as the Maharashtra Assembly elections are fast approaching and his son may contest from Baramati this time.
Pawar told reporters that it was up to the party to decide whether his son Jai Pawar would contest from Baramati constituency, where Ajit Pawar has represented the party for many terms.
“This is democracy. I have contested seven-eight elections so I am not interested (to contest elections). If the people and my supporters feel so, the (NCP) parliamentary committee will discuss it,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.
State NCP leader Sunil Tatkare clarified that Ajit Pawar has not said that he will not contest the upcoming state assembly elections. “Ajit Pawar has not said that he will not contest the election. He might have a plan. We want to win as many seats as possible,” Tatkare said.
Ajit said if the parliamentary committee and the “people” believe that Jay should be fielded, the NCP is ready to field him.
His eldest son, Partho Pawar, ran for the Lok Sabha in 2019 but lost by a large margin.
The Election Commission will announce the dates for the state assembly elections on Friday (August 16). The state will see a head-to-head contest between the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances. The Mahayuti comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar). The MVA comprises the Indian National Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Chandra Pawar).
Ajit Pawar says leading the NCP after the split is a big responsibility
Ajit Pawar said it was a big responsibility to lead the NCP from the shadow of his uncle and founder Sharad Pawar after the split.
Ajit Pawar and state legislators loyal to him broke away from the NCP and joined the ruling alliance in July 2023. Pawar later took over the party’s name and clock symbol.
“This is the biggest responsibility I have ever received. Till now, Mr (Sharad) Pawar was our leader and party president. When I entered politics in 1991, the NCP did not exist then. When the NCP was formed in 1999, the responsibility was given to me only in 2004. Now as I am the NCP president, the ultimate responsibility is on me,” Pawar told PTI.
Mahayuti seat allocation talks moving forward positively: Ajit Pawar
He added that seat-allocation negotiations within the ruling Mahayuti faction were progressing positively.
“Everyone wants to contest from the maximum seat and a solution will be found,” Pawar said.
Input from PTI