NCP founder Sharad Pawar was "50 per cent ready" to join hands with the Maharashtra government led by BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena when his nephew Ajit Pawar split the party and joined the ruling alliance, party leader Praful Patel claimed.
Ajit Pawar said at a Friday rally that the people of Baramati should vote for a ‘first-timer’ this time. Sunetra Pawar, his wife, has been a strong advocate of eco-villages in India, and has done social work in the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency. She runs an NGO to promote organic farming
"Except for me and my family, all in the Pawar family are likely to campaign against me or my candidate in the election..if all (Pawar family) go against me then the party cadre is going to be with me," Ajit Pawar said.