Nagpur: Rajya Sabha MP Chandrakant Handore had stated that Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi may not have an impact on 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra. Sharad Pawar, Supremo of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) gave a similar opinion while interacting with media persons on Tuesday at Patrakar Club of Nagpur.
Earlier, Pawar visited Wardha, where he accompanied his party’s candidate Amar Kale who filed nomination papers. Kale, who was defeated by Dadarao Keche in Arvi during Assembly polls, has been fielded by NCP. Pawar said, “Unlike last Lok Sabha elections, Adv Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi will have less impact. Minority community always works on defeating candidates rather than helping the ones to win the polls. This time, they will vote for the candidates who can defeat BJP candidates.”
“I don’t oppose the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) but some changes should be introduced in the system. With incorporation of changes, the EVM system can be transparent,” remarked Sharad Pawar. When asked whether the split in NCP affected his candidates, Sharad Pawar said, “First of all, those who left will not be welcomed. Secondly, their absence will make no difference to our group. People will be voting against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). People’s mood has changed, which is against Modi.”
To a query on confusion about INDIA bloc’s Prime Ministerial face, Pawar made it clear, “There is no confusion and soon, the final call would be taken. As far as INDIA bloc’s seat sharing for Lok Sabha polls is concerned, then I would say, I am not an astrologer.” On the Supreme Court granting bail to AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in a money laundering case, Pawar welcomed it and commented “Injustice was done to him. Now the real picture will come out.”
“There is no such thing. We are not prepared fully in Nagpur so we did not think about fielding a candidate here” stated Pawar, when asked if his friendly relations with Nitin Gadkari were behind his party not fielding a candidate. “Voting is yet to take place,” Pawar said, when asked if his daughter Supriya Sule will win the Lok Sabha election from Baramati, where she is pitted against Sunetra Pawar, wife of his estranged nephew Ajit Pawar. “Supriya won earlier so we can expect her to register victory this time too.”
To a query on China unilaterally renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh, the former Defence Minister said, “The Government is not taking national interests seriously.” Anil Deshmukh, senior leader of NCP in Vidarbha; Duneshwar Pethe, City President; Pravin Kunte Patil, President of Nagpur District; Pankaj Thakre, Shekhar Sawarbandhe, Prakash Gajbhiye, ex-MLC, Avinash Gotmare, State Vice President; Kishan Belsare, District Working President; Raman Thaokar, Saurabh Mishra, City Vice President; Shailendra Tiwari, Working President of State for Youth wing of the party, Varsha Shamkule and others were present.
