Baramati, April 4 (NationPress) Jay Pawar, the younger son of the late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, expressed on Saturday his disbelief at having to contest the Baramati by-election on April 23 without his father, whom he referred to affectionately as Ajit Dada.

Despite the emotional weight, he remains assured of the local community's backing, asserting, "If the opposition wishes to contest, they are welcome to do so. The people of Baramati's choices in this election are well-known."

His mother, Sunetra Pawar, the NCP candidate, plans to submit her nomination on April 6. Jay emphasized that his current focus is on grassroots organization rather than personal political aspirations.

After visiting local farmers affected by unexpected rainfall and hailstorms in Baramati, Jay shared, “I never imagined I would find myself in this position without Ajit Dada.” When asked about the challenges of this election, he responded, "I prefer not to elaborate. My emotions are involved, and I wish to keep some thoughts private."

In response to inquiries about a possible merger of the two factions of the NCP and the ongoing "Pawar vs Pawar" narrative, Jay adopted a conciliatory tone, emphasizing family unity. “We stand together as a family. Our communication remains strong. Following Dada's passing, we have united. Regarding political matters, I believe it’s best left to senior leaders to discuss.”

When discussing the merger, he remarked, "I am not in a position to comment. Leaders such as Parth, Vahini (Sunetra Pawar), and other senior members will take the lead on these discussions."

Jay also addressed the delay in his planned press conference, explaining that his cousin, NCP-SP legislator Rohit Pawar, had already addressed the points he intended to discuss. He stated he is awaiting the final investigation report before making any conclusive statements to prevent public misunderstanding.

When questioned about accountability regarding the aircraft crash that claimed his father's life, Jay stated, “I shared videos of Rohit Singh. I have one question: If a building collapses, the owner faces arrest, not the engineer. If a hotel catches fire, it’s the owner who is held accountable. So why isn’t the same standard applied here? Why hasn’t the owner of the company been held responsible?”

He expressed dissatisfaction with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) for releasing an “incomplete” preliminary report and challenged the accountability of the aviation firm involved, VSR Ventures.

He reiterated his call for the arrest of Rohit Singh, the owner of VSR Ventures, and urged the DGCA to ground the entire fleet of the company until the final report is released.