Caught in the Middle: Shinde-Fadnavis Amidst Pawar Family Dynamics at Baramati Event

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are set to find themselves virtually caught between the ongoing tensions within the Pawar family during the opening of the 2-day NaMo Maharojgar Melava in their hometown of Baramati on Saturday.

According to the tentative seating arrangements, Fadnavis and Shinde will be situated between Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar on the left and Nationalist Congress Party President and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on the right.

Sharad Pawar, 83, whose name was initially absent from the invitation card, swiftly emerged as a central figure following his invitation to Shinde and his entire cabinet for a discussion over tea, followed by dinner at his residence in Govindbaugh.

After widespread surprise at the initial exclusion, the state government promptly issued a revised invitation on March 1, prominently featuring Sharad Pawar's name for the official program at the Vidya Pratisthan campus later in the morning.

Despite Pawar's hospitality gestures, the CM and Deputy CMs politely declined, citing various reasons for their absence from both the campus event and the dinner.

As the controversy appeared to die down, the residents of Baramati were left pondering over who gained the most from the situation, with the town adorned with posters and banners of the MahaYuti government.

In addition to the job fair, Baramati will witness the inauguration of a newly renovated bus depot for the Maharashtra State Transport Corporation and a new police station on Saturday.

Spread across a 12-acre campus, the esteemed Vidya Pratishthan was established by Sharad Pawar 52 years ago. He currently serves as its President, alongside committee members including his daughter Supriya Sule, grand-nephew Yugendra S. Pawar, nephew Ajit Pawar, and his wife Sunetra Ajit Pawar, among others.