Veteran politician and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar hinted at a potential retirement from Parliamentary politics on Tuesday. Speaking at a gathering in Baramati, Pawar, 84, noted that his current term in the Rajya Sabha has a year and a half remaining, suggesting he may not seek another term. “I will have to think whether to go in Rajya Sabha again or not,” he remarked, indicating he might step down from the Upper House.
Pawar was in Baramati to support his grandnephew and NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly election, set for November 20. Yugendra will be contesting against his uncle, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, intensifying the family dynamics within the election. Earlier this year, the Lok Sabha seat for Baramati was also a family affair, with Supriya Sule, Sharad Pawar’s daughter, emerging victorious over Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar.
During his speech in Shirsuphal, Baramati, Sharad Pawar acknowledged the significant work Ajit Pawar has done for the region. He noted Ajit’s role in local development for over 25 years, entrusting him with decisions on local bodies, sugar cooperatives, and dairy operations. However, Pawar hinted at the need for new leadership to ensure sustained growth in the coming decades, adding that “everyone should get an opportunity” and that it’s essential to groom leadership that will serve for the next 30 years.
Pawar emphasized the need for a fresh approach, suggesting that Baramati’s next phase of development would require new leaders who can carry forward the legacy he and Ajit Pawar have established. “We need to groom leadership that will work for the next 30 years,” Pawar stated, positioning himself as a leader ready to make way for a new generation.
In a veiled remark, Pawar appeared to criticize Ajit Pawar, noting that while he hasn’t restricted anyone’s rise, people might disapprove of a leader who “keeps saying he will take everything.” Despite this, he expressed his deep connection to Baramati and conveyed his confidence that the region’s people have always supported him.
