Mumbai: The NCP president Ajit Pawar on Monday filed his nomination papers from the Baramati assembly constituency. Significantly, this time around Ajit Dada made a tactical move, three common women accompanied the Deputy Chief Minister while submitting his nomination papers. Against the backdrop of precarious situations in the landscape of the state, this election has become crucial for Dada to maintain his political relevance.
It is common for any senior political leader to accompany their party colleagues and other prominent people from the vicinity while going to file the nomination. But Ajit Pawar tried to make it a strategic move by taking together women who are beneficiaries of the state government’s newly introduced ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’. Under the scheme, eligible women would receive Rs 1,500 per month in their bank accounts.
For the first time Ajit Pawar was looking somewhat stressed. No doubt he put the brave face but many things were visible through his body language. After filing the nomination the NCP chief got emotional while addressing a rally. Pawar alleged that the NCP patron Sharad Pawar had created a split in the family and fielded a candidate against him.
Apparently, Pawar has realised that his Nationalist Congress Party faces an uphill task in the polls. He recently said he did not have to ask for permission while distributing party tickets as he was the saheb (boss). It was a veiled reference to his uncle, Sharad Pawar, with whom he had parted ways in February last year. Ajit Pawar’s frustration level was so high that he asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make him chief minister if the BJP-led alliance retained power after the assembly polls, due in November. Ajit later denied the report, saying he only discussed problems faced by farmers.
Ajit Pawar has always shown a desire for power and a yearning for the next chapter of his journey to unfold. Prior to this election he has won all the elections by a sizable margin. This time he is pitted against his own family member. If Pawar loses this battle he will be irrelevant in the state politics.
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