Sunetra Pawar: Duty towards husband Ajit to contest election

MAKING HER debut in electoral politics, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP'S Baramati candidate Sunetra Pawar said it was her duty towards her husband, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, to contest the election. She is taking on family member and sitting MP Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and winner of the past three Lok Sabha elections, in the Pawar bastion.

“It is my duty to stand for my husband in the current political situation. Thus, I am contesting the Lok Sabha election and am confident of winning it," she told The Indian Express when asked whatmadeherchangeherearlier publicly-declared stance of never wanting to enter politics.

Thedeputychiefministerhas taken a decision to join the NDA and it has the support of around 80 percent of the party, she said, adding that the support of voters was with her husband. She said thiswasbecausetheyknewitwill help the nation's future and progress.the NCP candidate said she had no first hand experience incontestingelectionsbutwasactive during polls that her family memberscontestedinthepastincluding her husband. "I too have a background in politics as my brother and others have been in politics since a long time. It is true that few of my family members are campaigning for the rival candidate but several family members of my husband as well as relatives from my parents' family havestartedcampaigningforme," she said.

Regarding the possibility of her sons Parth and Jay carving out politicalcareers,consideringwhat the family had gone through in the past, Sunetra said, "Presently, bothareinvolvedinhandlingelectionworkfromofficeastheentire family cannot be on the field. Someone has to handle the situation at the back end. The children are independent to make their own decisions and as parents wewillstandbythemonwhatever decision they take."

She expressed displeasure over the projection of the Baramati seat election as a tussle within the family. "Family is in its place and will continue to be the way it is. The election should be on a political stand, which is different between my party and that of the competitor," Pawar said. Agreeing that her candidature against Sule may place many Baramati voters in a dilemma, she said she has advised voters to think less about bhavna (emotions) and more about bhavishya (future).

Regarding Ajit Pawar being targeted for the NCP'S split and hintingatsharadpawar,sunetra said that the decision was a political one and that such decisions were made by by senior leaders in the past as well over various reasons.

“Thus, my husband should not be criticised for a decision which he thought was in the largerinterestof country,”she said.

Sunetra Pawar is taking on Supriya Sule in Baramati