Supriya Sule’s emotional appeal marks end of campaigning for Baramati bypolls

Sharad Pawar-led National Working President and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule addressed the last rally seeking votes for late Ajit Pawar’s wife, Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, bringing the campaigning for the Baramati byelection to its conclusion on Tuesday.

Despite the Sharad Pawar-led NCP being a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), she chose to share the dais with senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as well as other ruling Mahayuti alliance partners.

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Addressing the people of Baramati, she shared her memories of January 28, the day of the late Ajit Pawar’s death in an air crash.

“I wanted this election to be unopposed. Unfortunately, some people’s election nomination forms are still pending. But I have no doubt that there will be a record turnout for this election. Pay your tributes to Ajit Dada by pressing the number button against the name of my sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar. Such a day and time should not befall any sister,” Supriya Sule said, addressing the Baramati by-election rally.

So far, Sule has stayed away from campaigning because she received no request from Sunetra Pawar. However, her nephew Rohit Pawar, his parents, Yugendra Pawar, as well as other Pawar family members have been campaigning for Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar. Sunetra Pawar’s younger son, Jay Pawar, largely led the election campaign for his mother.

The Baramati bypoll, which is scheduled for April 23, was necessitated by the death of the late Ajit Pawar, the then Deputy CM in an air crash on January 28. His wife, Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, is contesting the seat unopposed by any major political party.

The Congress, which had fielded a candidate for the Baramati assembly bypolls, withdrew at the last moment following appeals from leaders of both the NCPs, including Sunetra Pawar as well as Sharad Pawar.

While there are 23 candidates in the fray, all are independents who pose no threat to Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar. Most of them are expected to lose their deposits after the Baramati assembly bypolls results are declared on May 4, according to NCP leaders.

While campaigning in Baramati, Supriya Sule got emotional while recalling the day Ajit Pawar’s plane crashed on January 28. She said, “I still remember that day, I was walking in the morning. It was around 8.45 am. I got a call from Parth. I was surprised how the call came so early in the morning. Parth told me, daddy’s plane has crashed. I said don’t say anything. He said, ” Aunty, just listen to me, daddy’s aircraft has crashed. I asked him why your dad is on some aircraft? Don’t say anything before you verify it properly. Parth was talking to me on one phone, and on another phone, he was speaking to Musale, who was present at the site of the air crash. From there, he was showing Parth the incident on a video call,” Supriya Sule said.

“Even today, when I close my eyes, I still remember that day. Why did such a day come upon us? Even today, I don’t believe it fully. I didn’t have the courage to see that aircraft. I still hoped that maybe Ajit Dada wasn’t on that aircraft, and even if he was, he would walk out of it safely. But whatever had to happen, ended up happening. We all want to fulfil Ajit Dada’s dreams together. We are ready to do whatever help we can,” Supriya Sule said.

“No one thought this day would come in our lives. After coming to Baramati from Pune, I went to Kathewadi and met Asha Kaki, Ajit Dada’s mother. She was watching TV. I didn’t have the courage to tell her why I had come. The last two and a half months have been difficult for us. No one can believe that Ajit Dada is no longer with us. Even today, when there is work in the state or district, I miss him. Work continues to get done, but throughout my life, I feel the sadness in my heart,” Supriya Sule said.

“Many ministers from the state have come for this meeting. It is my duty, and as a representative of the people here, I welcome them. This is a very sad event. A big responsibility has fallen on my sister-in-law and both my sons. Parth and Jay are still young. But the way the three of them are fulfilling their responsibilities is a matter of pride and admiration for us. On behalf of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), I give my word to the sisters on behalf of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, Aditya Thackeray, Harshvardhan Sapkal, Shashikant Shinde, Jayant Patil and all the colleagues as well as office bearers that every worker of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) that the voters of Baramati will stand strongly behind their sisters in the elections,” Supriya Sule said.

“Since the last six decades, the people of Baramati and the Pawar family have had a special relationship. There was some discussion in Delhi about the Tamil Nadu elections. At that time, Baramati was specially mentioned. Baramati is going to create a record soon. The same Baramati people supported Sharad Pawar for six decades. After that, a big responsibility fell on Ajit Dada. He served loyally for 35 years and established a different identity for Baramati in Maharashtra politics. There were many accusations and conflicts, but the people of Baramati never left Pawar’s side,” Supriya Sule said.