Society Doesn't Like Rifts in Family; Realised My Mistake: Pawar on Leader Contesting Against Father

Gadchiroli: Admitting his mistake yet again of fielding his wife Sunetra Pawar against his cousin and Baramati MP Supriya Sule in the recent Lok Sabha polls, NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar , on Saturday, said the society doesn't like rifts in families.

The admission of the mistake came against the backdrop of poor performance by the NCP, one of the constituents of the Mahayuti alliance, in its maiden general elections after the split in the undivided party.

Addressing the Jansamman rally organised by NCP in Gadchiroli city on Friday, Pawar tried to discourage party leader and state minister Dharmarao Baba Aatram's daughter Bhagyashri from crossing over to the Sharad Pawar -led NCP (SP).

Speculation is going around about a potential contest between Bhagyashri and her father in the upcoming assembly elections.

"Nobody loves a daughter more than her father. Despite giving her away in marriage in Belgaum, he (Aatram) stood by her in Gadchiroli and made her the president of Zilla Parishad. Now you (Bhagyashri) are set to fight against your own father. Is this right?" he asked the gathering.

"You should support your father and help him win because only he has the capacity and determination to develop the region. The society never accepts breaking one's own family," Pawar said.

This is like breaking the family, he said referring to the rift between Bhagyashri and her father over her political move.

"Society doesn't like this. I have experienced the same and accepted my mistake," Pawar said.

The NCP led by Ajit Pawar suffered a severe drubbing in Lok Sabha polls losing three of the four constituencies, including Baramati, it had contested. In contrast, the Sharad Pawar -led faction won 8 out of 10 seats.

Aatram, an MLA from Aheri in Gadchiroli district, sided with Ajit Pawar .

"Aatram's daughter learnt politics from the father. Atram was the "vastad" (master) in politics who always kept one move close to his chest and played it at the appropriate time. Like a vastad, Aatram too doesn't teach everything to his pupil," Pawar quipped.

(with PTI inputs)