PUNE: Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar voted Sunday in a key Baramati sugar cooperative election in which his nominees are pitted against those of his uncle and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar , setting up another Pawar-vs-Pawar fight in the family pocket borough.
Ninety candidates are in the fray for 21 board seats in the Malegaon sugar cooperative , with Ajit himself contesting for chairman's post. Ajit has fielded his nominees for the 21 seats, as has Pawar has through grandnephew Yugendra. Baramati MP and Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule also voted in the polls. Counting will be on Tuesday.
Ajit asserted there was no office-of-profit hurdle in contesting for the chairman's post. "I claim the chairman's post and I have the right to decide whether to contest in any election or not," Ajit said, dismissing objections over his participation in the election despite being deputy chief minister. Ajit is contesting for this chairmanship nearly 40 years after his last attempt. His nominees are arrayed under 'Nilkantheshwar' panel for the 21 seats. Pawar and Yugendra's panel of contestants have come together under "Baliraja Sahakar Bachao" panel. A third set of nominees is contesting under "Sahakar Bachao Shetkari" panel, led by Ranjan Taware, an opponent of the Pawar family.
Over 19,000 members from 37 villages in and around Baramati voted in the election to Malegaon sugar cooperative, one of the most financially sound in Maharashtra. Voters have been divided into two categories - A and B.
Group A represent cane cultivators from the region; Group B voters are co-operative representatives.
Late Wednesday night, there was high drama in Baramati when supporters of nominees backed by Pawar and Taware alleged that a local bank branch was open till 11.30pm - fuelling allegations of horse-trading. Sule demanded an SIT inquiry.
Ajit - who is also district guardian minister - dismissed the controversy, stressing he had "no role to play". "None of my panel members was present at the bank. On the other hand, opponents are using their cooperative bank for campaigning and running the election system till late night," Ajit said.
Ninety candidates are in the fray for 21 board seats in the Malegaon sugar cooperative , with Ajit himself contesting for chairman's post. Ajit has fielded his nominees for the 21 seats, as has Pawar has through grandnephew Yugendra. Baramati MP and Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule also voted in the polls. Counting will be on Tuesday.
Ajit asserted there was no office-of-profit hurdle in contesting for the chairman's post. "I claim the chairman's post and I have the right to decide whether to contest in any election or not," Ajit said, dismissing objections over his participation in the election despite being deputy chief minister. Ajit is contesting for this chairmanship nearly 40 years after his last attempt. His nominees are arrayed under 'Nilkantheshwar' panel for the 21 seats. Pawar and Yugendra's panel of contestants have come together under "Baliraja Sahakar Bachao" panel. A third set of nominees is contesting under "Sahakar Bachao Shetkari" panel, led by Ranjan Taware, an opponent of the Pawar family.
Over 19,000 members from 37 villages in and around Baramati voted in the election to Malegaon sugar cooperative, one of the most financially sound in Maharashtra. Voters have been divided into two categories - A and B.
Group A represent cane cultivators from the region; Group B voters are co-operative representatives.
Late Wednesday night, there was high drama in Baramati when supporters of nominees backed by Pawar and Taware alleged that a local bank branch was open till 11.30pm - fuelling allegations of horse-trading. Sule demanded an SIT inquiry.
Ajit - who is also district guardian minister - dismissed the controversy, stressing he had "no role to play". "None of my panel members was present at the bank. On the other hand, opponents are using their cooperative bank for campaigning and running the election system till late night," Ajit said.
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