2019 Lok Sabha elections: Rift in Maharashtra’s Pawar family out in the open?
The issue in the family started with Ajit proposing Parth’s name for Maval constituency in Pune
A day after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar withdrew his name from electoral fray for his grand-nephew Parth, his another grand-nephew Rohit came out with a public appeal, requesting him to contest the elections.
Rohit, a ZP member, is the grandson of Pawar’s eldest brother Appasaheb, while Parth is the grandson of Pawar’s elder brother Anantrao and son of senior party leader Ajit Pawar. Pawar on Monday said he was opting out of the contest because he wanted to give the younger generation a chance.
Pawar’s nephew Ajit, who had insisted on candidature for Parth, remained silent on the announcement, but Rohit posted a message on his Facebook page. “Being party workers, we always respect saheb’s (Pawar) decision as our love for him is more than anything else. Thus, an activist like me and thousands of those who love him are of the opinion that he should reconsider his decision…We know well how heavyweights in politics praise saheb’s (Pawar) work, but his focus remains on the views of common man. They feel he is the only person who can stand with them for 52 long years, be it politics of social work.”
Leaders close to him said he is not stepping back now. “We have been requesting, but I don’t think he will reconsider his decision now,” said a Pawar aide.
Pawar told the media on Tuesday: “I know several party workers who have done such a thing [put out posts] out of their love for me. I read such posts and enjoy. I have been in electoral politics for 52 years. I will have to stop somewhere.”
The issue in the family started with Ajit proposing Parth’s name for Maval constituency in Pune. Pawar was not in favour of Parth contesting the Lok Sabha polls and publicly said that three members of a family can’t contest Lok Sabha polls. Parth, however, started meeting people in the constituency. Finally, Pawar surrendered to the pressure from within the family, especially from Ajit, and on Monday declared his withdrawal from the electoral fray.
Pawar’s decision is being seen as a sign of growing clout of Ajit in the party. Most party MLAs get along well with him. His image is of an aggressive leader, which the party had experienced when he was appointed as the deputy chief minister in 2010, despite a majority of MLAs supporting Chhagan Bhujbal. “Those who are making allegations that Ajit has hijacked the party are mad…” said Pawar.
Pawar said he has asked party’s sitting MP Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil to contest the polls. “I have requested Vijaysinh to contest from Madha,” he said.
