In Baramati, all believe in their leader

After observing a two-hour bandh on Wednesday, Baramati neither showed signs of tension nor any impact of the political chaos that has clouded Mumbai over its leader Ajit Pawar’s resignation. Instead, it wore a dull look on Thursday.

However, barring its political opponents, most of the residents, including college-going youngsters, believe in their leader and the Pawar family.

Soon after Ajit Pawar tendered his resignation from the post of deputy chief minister on Tuesday afternoon over his alleged involvement in the irrigation scam, Baramati protested by closing down all the shops on Wednesday morning. Baramati taluka president Sambhaji Holkar informed that to avoid any inconvenience to the citizens, the bandh call was given for only two hours.

Only Tuljaram Chaturchand College, which was started in 1962, was closed on Thursday following the death of a girl student. A few students roaming around the college campus talked to DNA on the political developments, and most of them were of the view that there was no need for Ajit Pawar to resign as none of the allegations have been proved.

Ramesh Sonwane, a commerce student, confidently said that Pawar’s resignation was a political move. He said that Ajit dada would remain their idol and quit because he is not involved in any such act.

Other students also strongly supported Pawar. Nilesh Bhapkar was of the view that Pawar’s “masterstroke” has signaled the end of Congress. Asked whether there was any rift between Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar and his nephew, Harshad Gawade said that all the Pawars are always together and there is no question of any split.

They were of the opinion that most of the politicians are corrupt and no party is clean. However, when they were asked if the Pawars are clean, all the students kept mum and started looking at each other. A few said, “Ajit dada was the signing authority (when he was the irrigation minister) and the people working under him could be corrupt. But he is clean and blunt to tell the truth.”

All the students were of the view that the resignation has improved Ajit Pawar’s image and stature which would catapult him to the post of chief minister in the near future. None of the students felt that there is anything which he would do by keeping his uncle in the dark. Interestingly, the students also knew that Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule has already made it clear that she does not have any political ambition in the state.

Pandurang Hagawane (25), a newspaper stall owner, and his colleagues Nandu Ubale and Prakash Ubale said that Pawar’s move could halt Baramati’s development. They said that no one has done so much for them. The trio were of the opinion that it is not at all possible to create any rift between the members of the Pawar family.