Mumbai: With stage set for another battle within the Pawar clan in Baramati, NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar says fighting against his uncle Ajit Pawar is a challenge for him, but he is not worried as goodwill and blessings are with him.
He said it is the people of Baramati who chose him for the assembly poll fight this time.
For the November 20 assembly polls, the NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar has fielded Yugendra, who is the son of Ajit Pawar’s younger brother Shrinivas. This is Yugendra’s maiden election.
This is the second electoral contest between two members of the politically influential Pawar family in their home turf Baramati in Pune district in the last six months. In May, Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule fought the Lok Sabha election against her estranged cousin and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar.
Sule retained the Baramati seat by defeating her sister-in-law by a margin of more than 1.58 lakh votes.
In a telephonic interview to PTI from Baramati, Yugendra said, “When my uncle (Ajit Pawar) worked and contested Baramati elections, Pawar saheb’s blessings were with him...But now the blessings are with me. Pawar saheb has more experience which is a boost and support to me.”
He said he has also been putting efforts in the constituency and has developed a strong base.
“My parents are into social work, I am involved in educational institutions and a wrestling association. My factory is here and I am doing organic farming,” he said.
Yugendra, who was involved in the poll campaign for his aunt Supriya Sule during the Lok Sabha polls, admitted that the lead she got from the Baramati assembly segment during the parliamentary elections was a hope for him.
When asked whether the people of Baramati will have a tough choice this time as from the Pawar family, Ajit Pawar traditionally contested the assembly polls, while Sule fought the Lok Sabha elections, Yugendra said that understanding was in place when both of them worked with Sharad Pawar.
The 32-year-old businessman, who is hoping to succeed in politics, said the decision to contest elections was not made by him or senior Pawar.
-PTI
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