Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar admitted that he made a mistake by fielding his wife, Sunetra, against his cousin Supriya Sule in the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency. Sule, a three-term member of Parliament, defeated Sunetra by a significant margin of 158,000 votes in the recent Lok Sabha polls. This decision resulted in Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) losing both seats it contested in western Maharashtra to Sharad Pawar’s faction of the NCP.
During a Marathi news channel interview, Pawar expressed regret over mixing politics with family matters. He acknowledged that politics should not interfere with personal relationships and admitted that he should not have allowed Sunetra to run against his sister. Pawar clarified that the decision was made by the party’s parliamentary board and once an action is taken, it cannot be undone. He stated that he now realizes that this decision should not have been made.
The defeat in the elections has raised doubts about Ajit Pawar’s ability to maintain the support of NCP’s traditional voters in western Maharashtra. Despite his efforts and reputation, the loss of his wife to Sule was a significant blow. These comments were made during Pawar’s “Jan Sanman Yatra,” a tour aimed at promoting various welfare schemes, particularly the “Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana” (MMLBY). This scheme aims to provide monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 to women, directly deposited into their bank accounts.
The acknowledgment of his mistake by Ajit Pawar highlights the complexities that arise when personal relationships intersect with political ambitions. It serves as a reminder that decisions made in the political arena can have far-reaching consequences, especially when family dynamics are involved. Pawar’s reflection on this issue during his tour emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clear boundary between personal and professional life, even in the challenging world of politics.
