Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar is competing against his cousin Supriya Sule in Baramati.

Mumbai:

Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar’s remarks at a campaign event in support of his wife, party candidate Sunetra Pawar from Baramati, have stirred up controversy. “We are providing development funds to you, so please press the EVM button more. Otherwise, we will have to stand still,” he said while addressing a political meeting in Indapur, Baramati.

The remarks triggered a strong reaction from the NCP faction headed by the party’s founder and veteran leader Sharad Pawar. Mahesh Tapase, spokesman for the faction, said Ajit Pawar’s remarks violated the model code of conduct. Sharad Pawar’s faction has complained to the Election Commission and sought action.

Baramati, a stronghold of Sharad Pawar’s family for decades, has become a battleground where the NCP’s factional and family feud will play out in this election. Sharad Pawar’s faction fielded three-time MP Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar. Her opponent is Sunetra Pawar, the wife of her cousin Ajit Pawar. Eight months ago, Pawar Jr. parted ways with his uncle and joined the NDA government in Maharashtra along with a group of MLAs.

Ajit Pawar was also embroiled in controversy for mentioning Drupadi in a poll speech. Droupadi is a mythical character in the Mahabharata who was married to the five Pandava brothers.

Addressing a gathering of doctors in Indapur, Baramati, Ajit Pawar responded to complaints from gynecologists alleging harassment by state health authorities for preventing prenatal testing to determine the gender of the child. Such testing is strictly prohibited to prevent female infanticide.

Speaking on the matter, Ajit Pawar said that “illegal things” do happen in hospitals even if there are incidents of harassment. “Such incidents should not happen. There is a skewed male-female ratio in some areas, even reaching 850 women to 1,000 men. Things will become difficult in the future. One may have to think of Draupadi… Such a situation It might happen,” he said. Realizing that the remark might spark an argument, he immediately clarified that he had no intention of hurting anyone’s feelings.