In a fresh war of words between the leaders of the feuding factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Sharad Pawar’s grand nephew Rohit Pawar has taken on deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar for allegedly warning voters on the basis of government development “funds” given to the people. 

Within days after the NCP (Ajit Pawar) targeted Sharad Pawar over his reported comment suggesting Ajit Pawar’s wife and its candidate from Baramati as an “outsider”,  Rohit Pawar of the rival NCP (Sharad Pawar) took to micro-blogging site “X”  to draw the attention of Election Commission of India (ECI) for alleged violation of Model Code of Code by Ajit Pawar through an objectionable statement.

Uploading a news video clip of the objectionable statement made by Ajit Pawar at an election rally at Indapur which is part of Baramati Lok Sabha constituency on his “X” handle, Rohit said: “What is Ajitdada talking? Is talking about funds available with his friends or government development funds? Since the people are not supporting him, he is issuing threats of funds. This is nothing but violation of the Model Code of Conduct. ECI should take serious cognisance of Ajitdada’s statement”.

The video clip showed Ajit Pawar saying: "We are giving you funds. Press the button on EVM machines. Otherwise we will have to take action".   

A full-fledged Pawar family battle is being waged in Baramati Lok Sabha constituency where Sharad Pawar’s daughter and three-time MP Supriya Sule and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar – is taking on each other in Baramati constituency.

While Supriya represents the Sharad Pawar-led NCP which is one of the constituent of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Sunetra has been fielded by the NCP (Ajit Pawar) which is one of the parties in the BJP-led ruling MahaYuti.

Baramati Lok Sabha constituency has been represented by the Sharad Pawar family for nearly four decades now. While Sharad Pawar was a two-time MP and his nephew Ajit Pawar represented Baramati for one term,  sitting MP Supriya Supe has been a three-term Lok Sabha member from Baramati.

Sharad Pawar’s writ would run in Baramati for nearly four decades. However, political equations changed in Maharashtra’s prestigious Lok Sabha constituency after his nephew Ajit Pawar rebelled against Sr Pawar, walked out of the NCP with a sizeable number of supporters.