Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar-led panel has won all 21 seats in the Shree Someshwar Cooperative Sugar Factory elections in Pune district, defeating two rival panels and leaving the opposition without representation on the elected board. The victory marks her first electoral test for Sunetra Pawar, who took over the leadership of NCP after the death of her husband, Ajit Pawar.
The election was closely watched as a test of Sunetra Pawar's political standing in the Baramati region, a traditional stronghold of the Pawar family, and her ability to retain the support of the cooperative sector. The contest also saw a challenge from former associates of the late NCP leader, making the outcome significant for the faction’s efforts to consolidate its influence.
The election witnessed a three-way contest. Purushottam Jagtap, considered close to Ajit Pawar, left Sunetra Pawar's NCP faction and joined hands with former BJP MLA Sanjay Jagtap to challenge her panel. Meanwhile, Yugendra Pawar fielded another panel representing the rival NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar.
The rebellion by a leader associated with Ajit Pawar added to the significance of the contest, which came at a time when discussions were underway over the NCP’s leadership following his death.
Taking the challenge from the rival panels, Sunetra Pawar stepped up her campaign in the final days before polling. Accompanied by her son and MP Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar, she travelled across villages to meet voters, including people associated with the sugar factory, and appealed to them to support her panel.
During the campaign, Sunetra Pawar expressed confidence that the rebel group would fail to win even a single director’s seat. The results vindicated that claim, with all 21 candidates from her panel emerging victorious.
The election was also marked by a controversy on the eve of polling, when a Nationalist Congress Party mayor was accused of distributing money to councillors. Sunetra Pawar spoke out against the opposition in connection with the controversy.
Despite the challenges, her panel secured a complete sweep, with neither of the rival groups managing to win a seat.
The cooperative sugar sector holds considerable political significance in Maharashtra, particularly in rural areas such as Baramati. Sugar factories are not merely industrial enterprises; they are also important centres of rural economic activity and political mobilisation. Their elected boards can influence relationships with farmers, workers and local political networks.
The Shree Someshwar Cooperative Sugar Factory had been controlled by a panel led by Ajit Pawar for the past 34 years, according to the information available. Following his death, the election emerged as a crucial contest over the continuation of that political influence, particularly after one of his close associates joined the opposition to Sunetra Pawar's panel.
After the results were announced, all the winning directors gathered at Ajit Pawar’s memorial and dedicated their victory to him.
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(With inputs from Vasant More)