15 November,2023 04:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar with their kin in Baramati/ Instagram
Members of the Pawar family, including Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar and his daughter & MP Supriya Sule met at the home of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune district to celebrate Bhai Dooj, known as Bhau Beej in the western state, on Wednesday, stated a report in PTI.
According to the report, Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra and their sons Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar along with other members of the kin had gathered at the Deputy CM's home located in the Katewadi area of Baramati.
Reportedly, the members of the Pawar family come together every year during Diwali to celebrate Bhau Beej in Baramati, their bastion.
The celebration of this year's Diwali was the first family event after Ajit Pawar broke away from his uncle's party and joined hands with the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to be a part of 'Mahayuti' government.
On Tuesday, Ajit Pawar visited Sharad Pawar's home in Baramati to celebrate Diwali Padwa. Supriya Sule took to Instagram and shared photos from thee gathering on social media. She captioned it, "Blessed! Embracing the beauty of our traditions with pride 'Baramati'."
NCP Split
On July 2, this year, Ajit Pawar broke away with eight MLAs and joined hands with the Mahayuti government. Following his exit, the party was vertically split with both Ajit and Sharad Pawar staking claim to the party originally founded by Pawar Sr (82) and its symbol. The two factions have moved to the Election Commission of India to stake claim to the party and its symbol.
Earlier last month, during a hearing at the Election Commission, Ajit Pawar claimed that he had the support of 42 of the 53 MLAs in Maharashtra, six of the nine MLCs, all seven MLAs in Nagaland and one member each in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. Ajit Pawar had reportedly stated in his submission, "Under the circumstances, the petitioner submits that he enjoys overwhelming support in the Organisational Wing as well as Legislative Wing of the NCP and therefore the present petition may be allowed by the Hon'ble Commission by recognising the faction led by the petitioner to be the real Political Party."
Meanwhile, the Sharad Pawar-led faction told EC there was no dispute in the party and that a few individuals had defected from the party for their personal ambitions.
