There are speculations in political corridors that Mrs. Ajit Pawar is contesting against Supriya Sule. Sharad Pawar’s dinner invitation to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers comes as Sunetra Pawar, the wife of Ajit Pawar, has increased her outreach among the Baramati voters amid buzz that she could be fielded to take on Supriya Sule.
Sule, who is looking at a possible challenge from Ajit’s wife in the Baramati seat, has said her father was only upholding the tradition of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava (a guest is like god)’. Sharad Pawar’s political party is already in the doldrums and now his daughter’s career is at stake. Pawar’s well-earned reputation as an excellent host, especially to visitors to Baramati, and as a leader who retains the art of breaking bread across parties, employing yet another of those googlies that his opponents find hard to read. In the recent past, Sharad Pawar has invited CM Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar for lunch as they visit his home turf, Baramati, on Saturday.
All three top state government functionaries are puzzled by the invite, particularly nephew Ajit, who didn’t just take more than half the NCP from Pawar Senior but also the party name and symbol. Those watching on with more than a tad of apprehension include Pawar’s allies Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), who know better than to take the gesture by the old warhorse at face value.
At this dinner party, Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut will also be present. No one is able to read the mind of Pawar, but political pundits predict that this move could be for reunion and Senior Pawar may set some equations ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Pawar has chosen not to offer any reason or explanation, except what he said publicly: that he wanted to give Shinde a traditional welcome as it was his first visit to Baramati in Pune district after becoming CM.
What is coming is to unveil an employment scheme, the Namo Maharozgar Yojna, at Baramati. While a similar event was held in Nagpur, Fadnavis’s home town, a couple of months ago, the choice of Baramati was clearly meant to rattle Pawar, with the NDA parties having declared their intention to wrest the Baramati Lok Sabha seat from his family’s control this time.
