E-Paper
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Fear of setback or Parth’s candidature? A look at what made Sharad Pawar exit the race
In Madha, the Lok Sabha constituency which Pawar represented between 2009 to 2014, internal factionalism, disgruntled party leaders and rise in the number of new voters would have posed a stiff challenge before him. Fielding Parth, besides Pawar himself and daughter Supriya Sule, would have sent the wrong signal among the party cadres.
Many factors may have been the reason behind Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to opt out of the general elections race. In the press conference held in the city on Monday, Pawar flaunted his record of the past 14 elections in which he won each one by a handsome margin.
“Those who know me, know well that I have fought 14 elections and have won them all,” Pawar said.
However, did the fear of a possible setback in the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 or Parth’s candidature prompt Pawar to rethink his decision to contest the polls?
Earlier, on February 20, Pawar had said that he will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, while his nephew Ajit Pawar and other family members will not contest.
This time, though, two prominent reasons may have influenced Pawar to change his mind. First, in Madha, the Lok Sabha constituency which Pawar represented between 2009 to 2014, internal factionalism, disgruntled party leaders and rise in the number of new voters would have posed a stiff challenge before him. Second, according to political observers the withdrawal of his candidature is result of factionalism within the party, which many feel could have hurt the NCP chief’s prospects in the Madha polls. While Pawar, being an astute politician, may have won with a reduced margin, he would have been forced to extensive spend time in Madha at the cost of other constituencies.
The early signs of factionalism emerged when Pawar had to cut short his speech in Madha in February when two factions of workers – one led by Shekhar Gore and another by Kavita Mhetre and Prabhakar Deshmukh – began arguing with each other. Despite Pawar’s appeal to stop the argument, workers of both camps did not relent, much to the embarrassment of the party chief.
In the political circles though speculations were rife that Pawar’s decision to withdraw from the polls were prompted by Madha sitting Member of Parliament Vijaysinh Mohite Patil’s insistence for his own candidature. Mohite Patil’s argument was if he could win the polls despite the Narendra Modi wave in 2014, there is no reason to change the candidate.
Another reason for Pawar stepping back was Pawar’s grandnephew and Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth, who is keen to contest the polls from Maval. Fielding Parth, besides Pawar himself and daughter Supriya Sule, would have sent the wrong signal among the party cadres.
