Maharashtra Election Results 2024: Baramati, the bastion of the Pawar family, turned into an epicentre of political drama in the Maharashtra assembly elections, as voters faced a unique dilemma — choosing between seasoned leader Ajit Pawar and first-time contender Yugendra Pawar. The voters’ will is now revealed as Ajit Pawar has scored a thumping victory against debutant nephew Yugendra Pawar.

Ajit Pawar, the seven-term MLA and Deputy Chief Minister represented the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), while his nephew Yugendra Pawar, backed by Sharad Pawar and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), marked his political debut in the constituency.

NCP National President Ajit Pawar had asserted that he would win the Baramati seat with a margin of over one lakh votes, news agency IANS reported. The election marked another chapter in the Pawar family’s evolving political dynamics, coming from Supriya Sule’s victory over Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra, in the Lok Sabha elections in the same constituency.

Baramati voters, long loyal to the Pawar family, were split between Ajit Pawar’s experienced leadership and Yugendra’s fresh vision. Urban voters in Baramati town largely supported Ajit, while rural areas leaned towards Yugendra, drawn by his connection to the revered Sharad Pawar, according to Hindustan Times.

Maharashtra Election Results 2024: Ajit Pawar Vs Yugendra In Baramati

During campaigning in October, Ajit Pawar broke into tears during a rally, voicing his discontent over the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction)’s decision to nominate his nephew, Yugendra Pawar, as a candidate against him in the Baramati Assembly constituency.

Ajit Pawar, addressing a large gathering before filing his nomination papers, suggested that Sharad Pawar, the NCP (SP) supremo, should have intervened to prevent the familial contest. “His [Yugendra’s] mother told him not to file an application against his uncle [me]. But the elders [Sharad Pawar] should also have stopped him. However, they did not do so,” he said, amid slogans raised by party workers.

He further added, “Our party has already decided that I will file the nomination for the Assembly from Baramati. What is going on in the constituency is not right. Elders should have told him.”

Overcome with emotion, Ajit Pawar paused twice during his speech to drink water. Referring to the Lok Sabha elections, he said, “I was wrong. I should not have fielded Sunetra [his wife] as a candidate against Supriya [his cousin]. People voted for Supriya. It is generally said that Supriya for Lok Sabha and Ajit Dada for Vidhan Sabha.”

Appealing for unity within the family, he remarked, “It takes generations to maintain harmony in the house. But it does not take time to break the house. Quarrels at home should be kept within four walls. Once the family is divided, no one else can unite it.”

He credited the people of Baramati for his consistent victories over the last seven elections, adding, “After this year’s elections, my aim is to provide opportunities to the youth of Baramati in local bodies, parties, and industries. Local children must get employment in industries here.”

Meanwhile, Yugendra’s campaign, dubbed the “Swabhiman Yatra,” began at the Maruti Temple in Kanheri, Baramati, with blessings from Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule. During his yatra, Yugendra visited villages, interacted with locals, and addressed their grievances. 

Despite the family split in the NCP in July 2023, Yugendra maintained that Sharad Pawar’s advice to keep family and politics separate remained a guiding principle. He diplomatically refrained from commenting on Ajit Pawar’s recent strong statements, stating to IANS, “He is my uncle, and I would not like to make any comments.”

Yugendra, popularly known as “Yug,” holds a finance and insurance degree from Northeastern University in Boston. Apart from his political ambitions, he is associated with educational initiatives like Vidya Pratisthan, heads the Baramati Taluka Kustigir Parishad, and serves as the CEO of a company within the Sharayu Group.

The outcome of this high-stakes contest in Baramati will not only decide the future of the constituency but also signal the direction of the Pawar legacy.