'Whoever loses, we'll be hurt': Baramati split over heir
PUNE: For decades, Baramati's loyalty has been unyielding, first to Sharad Pawar and then to his nephew, Ajit Pawar . On Wednesday, it woke up to a voting day like no other, its allegiance fractured by a contest that pits clock against trumpet, nephew against grandnephew, and past against future.
Ajit Pawar, Baramati's NCP candidate, was predictably punctual. He cast his vote with wife and RS member Sunetra Pawar at 7am. An hour later, Yugendra Pawar , the young NCP (SP) hopeful, arrived at the same booth with his family. Sharad Pawar and wife Pratibha Pawar cast their votes elsewhere.
Ajit Pawar, Baramati's NCP candidate, was predictably punctual. He cast his vote with wife and RS member Sunetra Pawar at 7am. An hour later, Yugendra Pawar , the young NCP (SP) hopeful, arrived at the same booth with his family. Sharad Pawar and wife Pratibha Pawar cast their votes elsewhere.
In Baramati homes, tea stalls and buzzing chowks, political fervour eclipsed the hum of daily life. Seniors voiced their reverence for the foundational legacy of "Saheb". But younger voters aligned with Ajit Pawar's transformative projects. "They're both ours," sighed a 72-year-old villager. "Whoever loses, it will hurt us all."
Indicating that the stakes are higher this time, Sunil Dange, another resident, said Ajit, for the first time in decades, visited many booths, interacted with party workers and took selfies with them on voting day. Yugendra visited rural polling booths till 3pm.
Things got a bit tense at 1pm when NCP (SP) workers, joined by Yugendra's mother, Sharmila Pawar, claimed NCP workers were influencing people at a polling station by stamping the 'clock' symbol on voter slips. A close aide of Sharmila said, "We've lodged a complaint and requested CCTV footage." Ajit Pawar dismissed the charge.
Baramati recorded 62.3% polling till 5pm. In the 2019 polls, the turnout was 68.7%.