Pawar eyes Rajya Sabha seat

All the persuasion by NCP workers went in vain after Pawar refused to reveal his plans for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections at the much-hyped farmers rally, reports Satyajit Joshi.

Talk about the art of sustaining suspense, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar has mastered it. All the persuasion by NCP workers went in vain after Pawar refused to reveal his plans for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections at the much-hyped farmers rally on Wednesday.

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Pawar has passed on the Baramati constituency to his daughter Supriya Sule from where he has been winning for over four decades.

Pawar, who has been projected as the future candidate for the post of prime minister by his party, admitted that he was under pressure from party workers to contest from Shirur Lok Sabha constituency.

“I personally want to be elected for Rajya Sabha, which is more easy. I have been asking for votes for a long time, but time has come that workers should allow me go to Rajya Sabha,” he said.

However, the party’s strength in Lok Sabha was also important, he added.

A sentimental Pawar visited several towns of the Baramati base in three days to express his gratitude for electing him for several years. Throughout his speech, Pawar did not suggest about contesting from Shirur, despite demand by party leaders who spoke at the rally.

The Shirur constituency is currently held by Shivajirao Adhalrao-Patil of Shiv Sena, one time close associate of Pawar. Talking to the media, Pawar said numerical strength was more important, indicating that he was not averse to contesting from Shirur.