Pune: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has clarified that the decision to field his wife, Sunetra Pawar, as a candidate from Baramati was made by the Nationalist Congress Party's parliamentary committee.
In a candid interview with ANI, Pawar admitted that he personally did not favor the move, acknowledging that it was a mistake from a family perspective.
Pawar, known for his straightforward nature, explained that after the elections, he realized it was wrong to have Sunetra contest from Baramati.
"It felt inappropriate for the family to have members competing against each other. Whether one wins or loses, it still affects the family," he remarked, adding that his views on family matters are well-known within the party. Pawar urged people not to read too much into his comments, emphasizing that they were made in a personal capacity.
Touching on broader political dynamics, Pawar pointed out that for the first time in Maharashtra’s history, individuals who had not contested elections were appointed as Chief Ministers.
He cited Uddhav Thackeray and Prithviraj Chavan as examples, noting that both secured their positions after garnering the support of 145 MLAs.
Pawar emphasized the importance of a clear majority for the Chief Minister's post and expressed confidence in the Mahayuti's (Grand Alliance) chances in the upcoming Assembly elections.
When questioned about the possibility of reuniting with Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar refrained from commenting, focusing instead on the ongoing campaign efforts of the Mahayuti.
He stated that the alliance is working hard to regain the trust of voters, especially after the opposition's narrative during the Lok Sabha elections that the constitution and reservation policies would be altered—a narrative that he believes impacted voters in Maharashtra.
Pawar also revealed that after the Lok Sabha election results, he, along with Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, reviewed the reasons behind the outcomes.
They resolved to focus solely on development issues in the run-up to the next elections, steering clear of attacking the opposition.
Highlighting the importance of development, he noted that the current budget included several significant schemes, with seven key initiatives introduced under his leadership.
On the subject of local elections, Pawar mentioned that the NCP had a history of forming alliances with Congress for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections while contesting local self-government elections separately.
He recalled that the NCP was founded in 1999 amid debates over Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin and quickly formed a government with Congress.
Pawar reiterated the party's commitment to upholding the constitution and emphasized that the ongoing Jan Sanman Yatra is an effort to strengthen trust among the electorate.