Battle for Baramati: Ajit Pawar vs nephew Yugendra Pawar in Maharashtra assembly elections — All about NCP-SP candidate

Maharashtra Assembly Elections: Baramati assembly seat in Maharashtra's Pune is all set to witness battle within the family as the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) has decided to field Yugendra Pawar from the constituency against Ajit Pawar.

The NCP (SP) released the first list of 45 candidates for Maharashtra assembly polls and named Yugendra along with Jayant Patil, Anil Deshmukh, and Rajesh Tope among others.

Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister and NCP president, is contesting from the Baramati seat.

Ajit Pawar's nephew Yugendra (32) is a member of the third generation of the Pawar clan.

“Baramati candidate selection is based on the demand from the local people of Baramati. I had an interaction with them. They have suggested that he is a new face, young and educated, and can take everyone along. So we thought he would be the best person from our side,” said Jayant Patil.

Patil added that the way people are supporting Yugendra, there will be a different result this time.

The assembly elections in Maharashtra will take place on November 20 and counting will be on November 23.

Who is Yugendra Pawar?

– Yugendra is the grand nephew of veteran leader Sharad Pawar.

– He is the son of Ajit Pawar's brother Shrinivas Pawar.

– He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northeastern University, Boston.

– Yugendra has been close to the Pawar family patriarch.

– Yugendra is the Treasurer of Vidya Pratishtan, an educational institute founded by Sharad Pawar.

Baramati, a Pawar family bastion

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Baramati Lok Sabha seat witnessed a battle between Sharad Pawar's daughter, Supriya Sule, and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar, after a feud triggered by Ajit Pawar's rebellion in July 2023. However, Supriya Sule emerged as the winner defeating her sister-in-law.

Yugendra has been preparing the political ground for himself under Sharad Pawar's tutelage which was reflected in the launch of Swabhiman Yatra in Baramati in September.

During the last Lok Sabha polls, Yugendra campaigned for Sule, while his father criticised Ajit for deserting Sharad Pawar and joining the Mahayuti government with other NCP leaders.