Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar has expressed regret over fielding his wife, Sunetra Pawar, against his cousin Supriya Sule in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He believes that family matters should remain separate from politics, and considers the decision made by the NCP parliamentary board to be a mistake.
During an interview with Marathi news channel Jai Maharashtra, Pawar, who is currently on a statewide ‘Jan Samman Yatra’, stated that he made a mistake by allowing politics to enter his family life. He emphasized his love for all his sisters and expressed that fielding Sunetra against Supriya was a decision he now believes was wrong, despite it being a decision of the NCP parliamentary board.
The Lok Sabha elections saw Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP(SP) president Sharad Pawar, win the Baramati seat for a fourth consecutive term, defeating Sunetra by a margin of 1.5 lakh votes. Despite the loss, Sunetra was later elected to the Rajya Sabha.
In the Lok Sabha elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) surprised the ruling Mahayuti alliance by securing 30 out of 48 seats. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP won only one seat, Raigad, while the Sharad Pawar faction won eight.
When asked about his plans for Raksha Bandhan, Ajit Pawar stated he is currently on a tour and if he and his sisters happen to be in the same location, he will certainly meet them. He further revealed that he has decided to focus his public speeches on development and welfare schemes for farmers, women, and youth, and will not be responding to criticisms against him. Regarding criticism from his uncle Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar acknowledged his senior status within the family and stated he will not respond to it.
