After politics, now Pawar Vs Pawar in family over Diwali Padwa tradition

By Tanya Chugh
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 2 (ANI): Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, both hosted Diwali Padwa and greeted people at their respective residences in Baramati on Saturday.
Hosting Diwali Padwa and meeting the locals is a long-standing tradition in the Pawar family but amid rising political tensions due to the Maharashtra Assembly elections, now Pawar family has also divided its Padwa festivities.
For the first time, Ajit Pawar along with his wife Sunetra Pawar and son Parth Pawar hosted the Diwali Padwa at his residence in Katewadi whereas Sharad Pawar along with Supriya Sule hosted the Diwali Padwa at their residence Govind Bagh.
The NCP (SCP) chief Pawar addressed the public separately and said, "It's a tradition of many years that on Diwali Padwa we celebrate it together here. If this old tradition could have been continued I would have felt happy about it. It's ok but I am upset that people had to go to two different places which troubled them."
When questioned about celebrating Diwali Padwa separately and not with the entire family at Govind Bagh, DCM Ajit Pawar said, "What Sharad Pawar ji is saying, it is his right to say so. I would not like to comment on it. We celebrated it separately to avoid inconveniencing people at Govind Bagh. I wanted to ensure that those visiting me and my relatives didn't have to wait in line."
He further added, "People who come to meet me won't disturb their relatives and their line will also function smoothly."
Supriya Sule defined the auspicious occasions of Padwa by saying that there is Padwa in every home when questioned about separate celebrations in the family.
She said, "For the last 57 years since Sharad Pawar got elected in 1967 for the first time, this is an open house tradition that takes place. I have no idea, there are many Padwa (Diwali Padwa) happening here. In Baramati, there is Padwa in every home."
While speaking to ANI, Ajit Pawar's son Parth Pawar affirmed that this is a family tradition but how political demands made it necessary to celebrate Padwa separately. He affirmed that next year bhai dooj will be celebrated together with the entire family.
He said, "This is the tradition of Pawar family. We are celebrating Diwali Padwa here after 20+ years. We kept separate Padwa because people wanted that because after our split, we did not attend Padwa. Our party members and leaders wanted a separate Padwa. Only Padwa is being celebrated separately, the rest all the traditions will be celebrated together only but not this year because of the election campaign, everyone will be busy. Next year we will celebrate Bhai Dooj together"
Baramati is again facing a Pawar Vs Pawar battle after facing it previously during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In assembly elections, the uncle, Ajit pawar, and nephew, Yugendra Pawar will be up against each other. The preparations for upcoming elections have been intensified in Baramati.
Maharashtra elections will be held in a single phase on November 20 with counting of votes held on November 23. (ANI)