Ajit Pawar says, "Imagine what would have happened" if he campaigned in Rohit Pawar’s Karjat Jamkhed seat

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar recently commented on his nephew Rohit Pawar’s narrow victory in the Karjat Jamkhed constituency during the Maharashtra assembly elections. At a memorial event for Y.B. Chavan, Ajit Pawar congratulated Rohit but remarked, “Come, take my blessings. You barely survived retaining the seat. Imagine what would have happened had I held a rally in Karjat Jamkhed.”

Rohit Pawar won the Karjat Jamkhed seat by a slim margin of 1,243 votes, defeating BJP’s Ram Shinde. This victory followed a closely fought campaign in which Rohit retained his position amid strong opposition. Despite political differences within the Pawar family, Rohit referred to Ajit Pawar as a "father figure" and acknowledged his support in the past. He said, “In the 2019 elections, he helped me immensely. As my uncle, it is my responsibility to touch his feet.”

Ajit Pawar, meanwhile, retained his Baramati seat with a commanding margin of over one lakh votes, defeating NCP-SP candidate Yugendra Pawar. Baramati, a Pawar family stronghold, once again underscored Ajit Pawar’s political dominance in the region. Despite his influence, Ajit did not campaign in Karjat Jamkhed during this election, as he was focused on his own constituency.

Responding to Ajit’s remarks, Rohit said, “It is true that if he had held a rally in Karjat Jamkhed, it could have made a difference. But he was busy in Baramati and could not visit the constituency.” When asked to clarify his statement, Ajit Pawar said, “I did not say anything beyond congratulating him and wishing him success ahead.” He emphasized that his comments were not intended to stir controversy and were part of a light-hearted conversation during the event.

The Karjat Jamkhed election was one of the most closely contested races in the state. Both leaders referenced their shared political heritage, with Rohit mentioning the teachings of Y.B. Chavan, which continue to influence his political work in the constituency. The Pawar family, despite its internal political rivalries, remains prominent in Maharashtra’s politics.