Society does not like division in families; I have realised my mistake: Ajit Pawar
This is like destroying your family, Ajit Pawar said, referring to the rift between Bhagyashri and her father over her political move. (Photo: PTI)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar noted that society does not like divisions within families. He said that he has experienced this himself and admitted his mistake. He was apparently referring to the fight between his wife Sunetra and his cousin Supriya Sule in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
This is the second time in less than a month that NCP leader Pawar has publicly admitted that he made a mistake by pitting his wife against NCP (SP) leader Sule, the daughter of his uncle Sharad Pawar, and has also remarked that politics has no place in the living room.
The ‘admission’ of the mistake came against the backdrop of the poor performance of the NCP, one of the components of the Mahayuti alliance in the state, in the first general elections after a split in the party.
While addressing the NCP-organised Jansamman rally in Gadchiroli town on Friday, Ajit Pawar tried to dissuade party leader and state minister Dharmarao Baba Aatram’s daughter Bhagyashri from switching over to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).
There is speculation about a possible fight between Bhagyashri and her father in the upcoming state assembly elections.
“No one loves a daughter more than her father. Despite marrying her in Belgaum, he (Aatram) stood by her in Gadchiroli and made her the president of Zilla Parishad. Now you (Bhagyashri) are ready to fight your own father. Is that right?” the deputy CM asked the gathering.
“You have to support your father and help him win because only he has the capacity and determination to develop the region. Society will never accept that you destroy your own family,” he said.
“This is like destroying your family,” said Ajit Pawar, referring to the rift between Bhagyashri and her father over her political move.
“Society doesn’t like this. I went through the same thing and accepted my mistake,” he said.
The Ajit Pawar-led NCP suffered a heavy defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, losing three of the four constituencies, including Baramati. In contrast, the Sharad Pawar-led faction won eight of the ten seats it contested.
Aatram, an MLA from Aheri in Gadchiroli district, has sided with Ajit Pawar.
“Aatram’s daughter learnt politics from her father. Aatram was a ‘vastad’ (master) in politics who always kept one move secret and played at the right time. Like the vastad, Aatram too does not teach his pupil everything,” Ajit Pawar quipped.
First publication: 08 Sep 2024 | 08:51 am IST