Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar admitted that it was a mistake to field his wife, Sunetra Pawar, against his cousin, Supriya Sule, in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
One should not allow politics to enter home, Pawar, who is currently on a statewide ‘Jan Samman Yatra’, told Marathi news channel Jai Maharashtra. As part of his mass outreach programme ahead of the state assembly polls, the deputy CM has been promoting the government’s ‘Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana’, aimed at providing financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month to women.
In the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year, Sunetra Pawar unsuccessfully contested the election from Baramati seat against sitting NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, daughter of Ajit Pawar’s uncle Sharad Pawar. Sunetra Pawar was later elected to the Rajya Sabha. In July last year, Ajit Pawar and a number of other MLAs joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government, leading to a split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founded Sharad Pawar.
“I love all my sisters. One shouldn’t allow politics to enter homes. I made a mistake in fielding Sunetra against my sister. This shouldn’t have happened. But the parliamentary board (of NCP) made a decision. Now I feel it was wrong,” Ajit Pawar said. Asked if he will visit his cousin on Raksha Bandhan next week, the NCP leader said he is currently on a tour and if he and his sisters are at one place that day, he would surely meet them.
The deputy CM said he has decided to speak only on development and welfare schemes for farmers, women and youth and not respond to criticism against him. Ajit Pawar also said Sharad Pawar is a senior leader and head of their family and he would not respond to any criticism made by the latter. On the senior Pawar being targeted by the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena, the NCP leader said the Mahayuti allies should also understand what they speak. “I voice my opinion when we sit together,” he added.
Input from PTI