Sharad Pawar Writes Open Letter to Public After Being Re-elected to Rajya Sabha
Veteran leader thanks people for their continued trust while recovering from recent health issues
Mumbai: After being re-elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha, veteran politician Sharad Pawar wrote an open letter to the people of Maharashtra, expressing heartfelt gratitude for their continued trust and support. His re-election comes at a time when Pawar is recovering from recent health issues, including a chest infection and dehydration.
In his message, the senior leader said he would not be able to meet supporters and well-wishers personally for the time being, as his medical team has advised him to take complete rest. The letter was shared publicly by his grandson Rohit Pawar on the social media platform X (Twitter).
Reflecting on his long political journey that began in 1967, Pawar said his more than five-decade-long career has been possible only because of the trust placed in him by the people. He noted that since being elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1967, his political journey has continued uninterrupted thanks to public support.
Having served in several important roles—from a state minister to holding key positions such as Minister of Defence of India and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of India—Pawar said that every responsibility he has carried out has been possible because of the faith of the people. He thanked voters for giving him a new six-year mandate in the Rajya Sabha and reiterated his commitment to continue working honestly for the people of Maharashtra and India.
Pawar emphasized that although he has limited direct interaction due to doctors’ advice, his emotional connection with the people of the state remains strong. “The love, trust, and support I have received from Maharashtra is the true source of energy in my life,” he said, pledging to keep working with dedication to fulfill public expectations.
Meanwhile, elections for seven Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra are being held this year. Since only seven candidates are in the fray, the election has largely become a formality. However, securing support from alliance partners was not entirely easy for Pawar.
Based on the strength in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition was certain of only one seat if it fielded a joint candidate. Initially, Aaditya Thackeray from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had demanded that the seat be given to his party.
Eventually, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Indian National Congress agreed to support Pawar’s candidacy after receiving assurances that he would remain part of the INDIA alliance and would not shift towards the National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party after being elected.
