By Tejas

Pune, August 15, 2024: In today's press conference held in Pune, the Deputy Chief Minister and Pune's Guardian Minister, Ajit Pawar, sparked significant speculation by hinting at the possibility of his younger son, Jay Pawar, stepping into politics. When questioned about Jay Pawar’s potential candidacy, Ajit Pawar suggested that the decision would be considered by the party’s parliamentary board, especially if there is substantial support from party officials and activists.

Ajit Pawar, who has consistently represented the Baramati constituency for several terms, revealed a waning personal interest in contesting the seat again. "This is a democracy. I have been elected from Baramati seven or eight times. Therefore, I am not particularly keen on contesting from there again. If there is interest in fielding Jay Pawar from Baramati, our parliamentary board will consider it," he remarked.

These comments have intensified discussions about a potential internal contest within the Pawar family. Recently, Rohit Pawar, the sitting MLA from the Karjat-Jamkhed assembly constituency, claimed that Ajit Pawar had been under pressure from key leaders in Delhi to field his wife, Sunetra Pawar, against his sister, Supriya Sule, in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Rohit further suggested that similar pressure might now be influencing Ajit Pawar’s decisions regarding his own assembly seat in the next election.

The Deputy Chief Minister’s latest statements have only fuelled further speculation about a possible electoral showdown between the next generation of the Pawar family. On one side, Ajit Pawar hinted at Jay Pawar's potential candidacy, while on the other, Yugendra Pawar, who played a significant role in Supriya Sule’s last Lok Sabha campaign, is emerging as a contender.

Reports suggest that Sharad Pawar might field Yugendra Pawar against Ajit Pawar in Baramati for the forthcoming assembly elections. Yugendra has already begun meeting people in Baramati, signalling his intentions to vie for the assembly seat.

Ajit Pawar’s remarks have thus ignited talk of a possible high-stakes electoral battle within the family, with Jay Pawar and Yugendra Pawar potentially clashing in Baramati, a constituency long held by the Pawar dynasty. As the political landscape in Baramati heats up, all eyes will be on how this potential contest unfolds.