Pune, May 4: Baramati seat known as the bastion of the 'Pawar family', is witnessing a direct contest between three-time sitting MP Supriya Sule, the daughter of NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar, the wife of Ajit Pawar, who has switched over to the BJP-led NDA and became Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister. Voting on the Baramati Lok Sabha seat will take place in the third phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls on May 7. Baramati comprises 6 Assembly seats: Indapur, Baramati, Purandar, Bhor, Khadakwasla, and Daund.

The contest in Baramati has become very interesting after Ajit Pawar's split from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. Wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, Sunetra Pawar is contesting Lok Sabha polls on an NCP ticket from Baramati against Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidate Supriya Sule, who is sitting MP and her sister-in-law. Notably, Supriya Sule has won from this constituency for three consecutive terms. Supriya Sule who is eyeing a fourth term from Baramati, registered a victory here after defeating BJP candidate, Kanchan Rahul Kul in 2019. Maharashtra Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 37 Candidates in Fray From Aurangabad Constituency; Shiv Sena Factions and AIMIM Lock Horns.

In the 2014 polls, Supriya Sule had clinched victory for the second time, maintaining the Pawar family's stronghold despite the Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave sweeping across the country. Supriya Sule secured 5,21,562 votes with 48.90 per cent votes. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Supriya garnered 6,86,714 votes by 52.63 per cent votes, BJP candidate, Kanchan Rahul Kul, secured the second position with 5,30,940 votes with 40.69 per cent votes, while Padalkar Navnath from the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi came in third with 44,134 votes.

Following a split in the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP announced Sunetra Pawar as its candidate from Baramati. Earlier, Sunetra, during her door-to-door campaigning in the Hinjewadi area of the Baramati Loksabha constituency expressed her confidence to register a win on the most prestigious seat of Maharashtra, where there is a direct contest between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. "The excitement is high among people. Baramati constituency has witnessed work of development. My candidature was the demand of the public; seeing the Josh of people, the scenario is quite positive," Sunetra Pawar said. Maharashtra Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 258 Candidates to Compete for 11 Seats in State Going to Polls on May 7.

Addressing her vision for the development of the Baramati constituency she said that a lot of development has taken place in Baramati, but there has been no development in other talukas of the Baramati constituency. "My candidature was because of the wish of the people. Wherever I go, there is a lot of enthusiasm and positive vibes, so I am very positive about my victory. I am sure under Modi's leadership, the number of seats is going to cross four hundred and we will also be part of it," Sunetra Pawar said.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidate, Supriya Sule earlier said that this is a battle of ideas, and she is confident that after seeing her work, the public will stand with her. "I contest elections to serve the country. I have always worked within the framework of the Constitution. A leader always has to lead from the front and has very little time for emotions. I don't watch this as a contest. This is a battle of ideas. After seeing my work, and my merit, I am confident that the public will stand with me. The biggest problem in this constituency is water. So I think the administration needs to pay more attention to this drought today," she said.

Sharad Pawar first won from Baramati in 1984. In 1991, Ajit Pawar, his nephew won back the constituency. Since 1996, Baramati has been represented first by Sharad Pawar and then by Supriya Sule. The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) broke into two factions, on July 2, 2023, when his nephew, Ajit Pawar, went to Raj Bhavan in Mumbai and took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister along with seven NCP MLAs. Voting on the Baramati Lok Sabha seat will take place in the third phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls on May 7 along with Raigad, Osmanabad, Latur (SC), Solapur (SC), Madha, Sangli, Satara, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, and Hatkanangle.

The state, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest contributor to the lower house of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh known for its political diversity and significant electoral influence, Maharashtra plays a crucial role in shaping national politics. In the 2019 elections, the BJP emerged as the largest party with 23 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena with 18 seats.

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