Bramati (Maharashtra): Putting all speculations to rest, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, nominated Sunetra Pawar as a contender for the highly contested Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, setting the stage for a battle within the Pawar clan.

Sunetra Pawar will lock horns with Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar's cousin and the daughter of Sharad Pawar, in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"Today is a huge day for me. I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union HM Amit Shah, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar for showing faith on me," Sunetra Pawar was quoted as saying by India Today, following the announcement.

The Baramati constituency in Maharashtra, a Pawar stronghold for decades, witnessed fervent speculation on whether Sunetra Pawar and Supriya Sule would come face to face.

For more than 55 years, the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency has remained a stronghold of the Pawar family. Sharad Pawar secured victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections from Baramati in 1967, retaining the seat in subsequent polls up to 1990. Subsequently, Supriya Sule has been representing the constituency since 2009.

Finally, on Saturday, NCP leader Sunil Tatkare officially announced Sunetra Ajit Pawar's candidacy for the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, reported India Today.

According to the report, Tatkare said the contest symbolises a “battle of ideologies”.

The announcement follows a rigorous campaign period in Baramati, during which she has been actively involved in interacting with residents and party supporters.

Earlier today, NCP (Sharad Pawar) released its first list of candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, nominating incumbent MP Supriya Sule for the Baramati seat.

The party has disclosed contenders for five constituencies: Wardha, Dindori, Baramati, Shirur, and Ahmednagar.

NCP (Sharad Pawar) is part of INDIA bloc, an alliance of Opposition parties, including Congress, formed to oust the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

The party is also a component of the opposition coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi along with Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress in Maharashtra. As per this alliance, it plans to contest 10 seats in Maharashtra out of the total 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

The party has nominated Amol Kolhe for Shirur, Bhaskar Bhagre for Dindori, and former Congress MLA Amar Kale for Wardha.

Bhagre is set to challenge Union minister and incumbent BJP MP Bharati Pawar in the Dindori (ST) constituency. Meanwhile, Lanke, the current MLA from Parner, will compete against BJP MP Sujay Vikhe Patil in the Ahmednagar constituency.