As BJP gears up for ‘Mission Baramati’, Pawar family ‘welcomes’ Nirmala Sitharaman to their citadel

NCP chief Sharad Pawar hints that BJP may be feeling anxious about not winning in Baramati in past elections

Ahead of Union Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman’s much-anticipated visit to the Pawar family bastion of Baramati in Pune district, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said the Minister was ‘welcome’ to the constituency while hinting that the BJP perhaps felt anxious about not being able to win Baramati in past elections.  

Speaking in Mumbai, Mr. Pawar said that every political party had a right to expand in order to secure its future.

“In this context, if a party feels anxious about a particular region or a constituency [alluding to Baramati], then there is nothing wrong about that party trying to strive harder to enhance its presence. So, if Ms. Sitharaman’s Baramati visit comes with this object in the BJP’s mind, then it is her right to tour the constituency,” said the NCP chief.

Mr. Pawar said that the current MP of Baramati – NCP leader Supriya Sule, who is Mr. Pawar’s daughter - had already welcomed Ms. Sitharaman.

He recalled the past visits to Baramati of BJP heavyweights including the late Arun Jaitley and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

“Mr. Jaitley had stayed at my place. The PM himself had come here, too, so did the then President Pranab Mukherjee. So, I am happy that the Union Finance Minister too is coming here,” remarked Mr. Pawar.

Ms. Sitharaman will be touring the constituency from September 22 to 24, holding as many as 21 sessions of interaction with party cadre in the Assembly segments of Khadakwasla, Bhor, Purandar, Baramati, Daund, and Indapur.