Sharad Pawar not to contest Lok Sabha elections

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has decided not to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. There were reports earlier that Pawar would contest from Madha constituency in western Maharashtra.

Announcing his decision in Pune after meeting senior party members, Pawar said he has decided not to contest Lok Sabha polls after discussing the issue within the family. “After holding talks with family, we were of the opinion that next generation members should be given a chance. There is demand from various party leaders and workers for Parth Pawar’s candidature from Maval,” said Sharad Pawar, clearing way for Parth, his grand nephew and son of Ajit



Pawar.

The NCP chief said that his party would announce the final list of candidates soon.

During an interview with HT, Parth Pawar had expressed willingness to contest polls from Maval. Party workers from Pimpri-Chinchwad, which was once the stronghold of Ajit Pawar and a part of Maval constituency, are backing Parth’s candidature.

Parth, 28, has been actively participating in various social as well as political programmes in Pimpri-Chinchwad. In 2014, Shiv Sena’s Shrirang Barne won the Lok Sabha polls from Maval by a margin of at least 1.70 lakh votes with the NCP’s Rahul Narwekar at the third position.