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One of the most interesting political battles in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections will be fought on the Karjat Jamkhed seat in the state’s Ahmednagar district.
The Quint caught up with Sharad Pawar's grandnephew and NCP leader Rohit Pawar, during his election campaign.
“Our efforts are to meet more people and listen to their problems and tell them what we can do for them in the future. This is what we are trying to tell them,” Rohit said.
On being asked which young leader inspires him, Rohit promptly named his septuagenarian uncle Pawar. “I find Pawar Saheb young... He is young.”
On ED’s Allegations Against Sharad Pawar
Rohit outright refuted ED's allegations against NCP supremo Pawar in the Cooperative bank case:
“Such allegations have been levelled against Saheb many a times. But for the first time, this has been done by the ED. There were a lot of discussions among people because the ED had made allegations. But Saheb is Saheb... On 27 September, Saheb had said that he would go to the ED but, at that time, the ED went on a back foot because they had no file (on him).”Rohit Pawar, NCP leader
On Allegations of Dynasty Politics
Referring to the Opposition’s allegations against NCP for encouraging dynasty politics, Rohit questioned, “Did Aaditya Thackeray get a ticket? What happened to Munde Saheb's family? Pankaja Tai is there. Her sister is also a Lok Sabha MP.”
“These discussions are done only from the state’s perspective. I won the zila parishad election three years ago. Today, the battle I am fighting... of course the ‘Pawar’ name is there (as a factor) but along with that, ‘Rohit’ is also a name because I have worked hard. I have proved myself by doing a considerable amount of work.”Rohit Pawar, NCP leader
On Aaditya Thackeray's Entry into Politics
“No one had ever fought elections in the Thackeray family. I, being a youth, definitely welcome his move to come and enter active politics. I won’t talk about his maturity because he is contesting elections for the first time.”Rohit Pawar, NCP leader
"People are saying that the seat is easy for Aaditya to win, but we will also put efforts there,” added the young NCP leader.
Expressing concern over poor developmental facilities, Rohit said, “Roads are secondary, there is no water to drink here. There is no water for farming. Almost 90 percent of the constituency doesn't have drinking water. Tankers are supplying water. Water sources for agriculture like canals don't have water.”
He also said that people don't just want promises, they need health, education, empowerment.
Dismissing rumours of a dispute within the Pawar family, Rohit said, “How we are as a family is more important than what people say. And our family is united. There is nothing like what people are saying happening within the family.”
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