Sharad Pawar forced to halt campaigning after punishing schedule takes toll

Sharad Pawar's health concerns impact Baramati campaign; Supriya Sule takes on BJP and cousin Ajit Pawar.

The battle for Baramati has taken its toll on octogenarian Sharad Pawar. The Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief and former Union Minister cancelled his scheduled programmes for Monday after being advised to rest.

The 83-year-old, who has a sore throat, delivered a short public address in a quavering voice on Sunday – the last day of campaigning for Baramati (in Pune district), which goes to polls on Tuesday.

The Baramati contest pits Mr. Pawar’s daughter, incumbent MP, Supriya Sule against Sunetra Pawar, wife of Deputy CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who is Sharad Pawar’s nephew. He split the party last year to join the Mahayuti government by aligning with the ruling BJP-Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Both Ms. Sule and Dr. Amol Kolhe, the NCP (SP)’s candidate for the Shirur seat, on Monday said there was no cause for worry and that Mr. Sharad Pawar would rest awhile before resuming campaigning later this week.

With prestige, and their political future, at stake, both Mr. Sharad Pawar and his nephew have maintained punishing schedules, campaigning relentlessly not just in Baramati but across key Lok Sabha constituencies in western Maharashtra that go to the polls today.

Mr. Sharad Pawar has defied age by holding no less than 50 rallies across key constituencies including Baramati in a few days.

According to observers, Mr. Pawar’s appearance during the final day’s rally in Baramati, and the rousing speeches by Supriya Sule, and Shirur incumbent MP Amol Kolhe, lent an emotional charge to the event which could tilt the balance in the NCP patriarch’s favour despite the arithmetic on paper favouring Ajit Pawar.