4 days Ago
Baramati: Dada on Wednesday afternoon rolled out a pink carpet to welcome Ladki Bahin beneficiaries to his final show before the assembly election, while Saheb's emotional connect drew scores of women to Nava Dada's rally in the Pawars' citadel. NCP's Baramati candidate Ajit Pawar (Dada) spent around Rs1 lakh on the unique carpet at his rally on a bigger pitch, tucked not far from the Pawar family's traditional final election rally site — the Christian Colony ground. The deputy chief minister adopted pink a couple of months ago as the symbol of women empowerment .
"Red and green carpets are easily available for political rallies. Ajit Dada specially ordered the pink carpet for women. It has been brought all the way from Pune.
It costs Rs12 per square metre," said Kukde Bhau, the decorator at Ajit Pawar's rally. Meanwhile, the tall aura of Sharad Pawar (Saheb) drew thousands of women to Kasba ground for the final rally before voting day of Baramati's NCP (SCP) candidate, Yugendra Pawar (Nava Dada). At least 6,000 women filled rows of chairs reserved for them while the sun shone overhead.
As the mercury climbed to the day's highest of 31°C in Baramati, many a ladki bahin (beloved sister) moved into the men's section as well for shade. "Ajit Dada introduced the Ladki Bahin scheme for us. It's a good initiative.
But Rs1,500 can't buy our respect for senior Pawar," said Kshama Sachdev, a homemaker. Her associates blew a tutari, the poll symbol of NCP (SCP), in unison. Seated on the carpet in front of the dais, Rina Bute echoed Sachdev.
"MVA has promised to double the Yojana amount," the domestic help said. Pink festoons promising a hike in the Ladki Bahin grant if Mahayuti returned to power was Dada's message to women at his rally. "Pink flags with NCP's clock symbol adorn the pandal.
Even the background of the gigantic banner on the dais is pink. Dada's concern for women is unmistakable," said MBA student Ritu Chavan, as a drone flew over her amid loud chants of of "Dada, Dada". "If someone has done something for Baramati after senior Pawar, it's his nephew Ajit Pawar.
I'm getting Rs1,200 a month because of him. A man of his word, he will not let society get divided on religious or caste lines and he will bring more development projects to Baramati and Maharashtra," said homemaker Saba Ali just before Ajit Pawar took the stage. Men were also aplenty at Dada's show.
"There is no substitute for experience. There were talks of (Jasprit) Bumrah leading Team India in the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Eventually Rohit (Sharma) will probably lead the side now.
Ajit Pawar is the captain of Baramati after Sharad Pawar. We will prosper under him," said businessman Tushar Deopujari as he tried to make his way towards the dais at the NCP's final rally. Cut back to the packed Kasba ground.
"Not many are giving a chance to poll debutant Yugendra. Remember Kapil's Devils? They flattened Clive Lloyd's mighty West Indies in 1983. Keep in mind that senior Pawar is with Yugendra.
If a greenhorn wins, a scheme like Ladki Bahin can be a possibility for youths too," said enthusiastic college student Robin Deshmukh, while Yugendra presented his case from the dais amid thunderous slogans of "Baramati cha Nava Dada, Yugendra, Yugendra". As dusk fell, Sharad Pawar and his loyalists in the family bade adieu to Yugendra's supporters. "Upset? A possibility.
Reconciliation is also a possibility. Politics is all about possibilities. But people should gain out of them, not just one family," said Baramati-born young ITeS professional Ketaki Bhosale, on her way back home from Yugendra's rally.
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