Baramati: In Pawar vs Pawar battle, Katewadi residents support Ajitdada

Baramati: Some families in Katewadi, the native village of NCP (AP) chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, have displayed boards on the front side of their houses, which read in Marathi: ‘Dada-Vahini, he tumacha kutumb, amhich ithle umedwar (Dada-Vahini, we are a family, we are candidates here’).

This comes in the backdrop of the family feud among the Pawars, where Ajit Pawar said that he was being isolated in his family as he parted ways with Sharad Pawar in politics. Ajit Pawar made a statement in this regard at a public rally recently. Except for Ajit Pawar and his wife and Maha Yuti candidate Sunetra Pawar and their children, the entire Pawar clan is campaigning against Sunetra. Therefore, some families have displayed these boards expressing their support to Ajit Pawar.

Milind Kate, a villager from Katewadi, said, “The reason behind displaying the board is that Ajitdada has brought development to the village and he has been isolated in the family. The entire family has gone against him. To condemn such a stance, we have pledged support to Ajitdada and Sunetra Vahini. We are a part of his family and we staunchly support him. That is what these boards convey.”

He said that Sunetra Pawar, when she was working in the Gram Panchayat in 2008, took a revolutionary decision that the name of the lady of the house should be displayed on the main door. The same decision was made by the state government recently. As per the decision, one is supposed to put one’s mothers’ name ahead of the father’s name and then surname in official records. The Katewadi Gram Sabha had decided this in 2008. “Such revolutionary decisions Dada and Vahini have made and we all support them. The entire village is behind them.”

The Baramati Lok Sabha is making headlines as it is a fight between two stalwart Pawars. The entire Pawar clan has gone against Ajit Pawar but his native village, Katewadi, seems to have put its might behind him.