Pune: Ajit Pawar Shares PM Modi Anecdote as Sunil Shelke Wins Maval by Over 1 Lakh Votes
Pune, 24th November 2024: Sunil Shelke of the NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction emerged victorious in the fiercely contested Maval constituency, which had become the focal point of political discussions in Pune. Shelke secured a landslide victory with a margin of over one lakh votes, overcoming an alliance of opponents determined to defeat him.
The election in Maval drew statewide attention, with political observers dubbing it the “Maval Pattern.” The BJP had strongly opposed Shelke’s candidacy, and rival parties united in an unprecedented coalition to challenge him. Despite this, Shelke triumphed, demonstrating his strong grassroots support and the strategic leadership of Ajit Pawar.
After Shelke’s win, he met Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who shared an interesting anecdote during a public gathering about Shelke’s earlier encounter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ajit Pawar recounted, “During a meeting with Prime Minister Modi, Sunil Shelke was initially left waiting outside because he wasn’t allowed in. All our MLAs were inside, but he was stopped at the door. I spoke to PM Modi and requested that Shelke be allowed in. Modi immediately instructed his security team to let him through. When Shelke came in, I introduced him to PM Modi, and later, a photo of them together was circulated widely.”
Pawar further highlighted how this photograph became a symbol of Shelke’s connection, even as the BJP strongly opposed him. Reflecting on Shelke’s confidence, Pawar added, “Initially, Shelke thought his seat was lost due to the opposition’s unity. But on polling day, he predicted his victory by one lakh votes. Ultimately, Shelke won by an even larger margin, securing more votes than I did.”
Sunil Shelke’s win in Maval is being seen as a significant political statement, with the Ajit Pawar faction proving its strength despite coordinated resistance from rival parties. The victory cements Shelke’s position in the constituency and reinforces Ajit Pawar’s leadership in steering his camp to success.
