Baramati: Dada on Wednesday afternoon rolled out a pink carpet to welcome Ladki Bahin beneficiaries to his final show before the assembly election, while Saheb's emotional connect drew scores of women to Nava Dada's rally in the Pawars' citadel. NCP's Baramati candidate Ajit Pawar (Dada) spent around Rs1 lakh on the unique carpet at his rally on a bigger pitch, tucked not far from the Pawar family's traditional final election rally site — the Christian Colony ground. The deputy chief minister adopted pink a couple of months ago as the symbol of women empowerment .
"Red and green carpets are easily available for political rallies. Ajit Dada specially ordered the pink carpet for women. It has been brought all the way from Pune.
It costs Rs12 per square metre," said Kukde Bhau, the decorator at Ajit Pawar's rally. Meanwhile, the tall aura of Sharad Pawar (Saheb) drew thousands of women to Kasba ground for the final rally before voting day of Baramati's NCP (SCP) candidate, Yugendra Pawar (Nava Dada). At least 6,000 women filled rows of chairs reserved for them while the sun shone overhead.
As the mercury climbed to the day's highest of 31°C in Baramati, many a ladki bahin (beloved sister) moved into the men's section as well for shade. "Ajit Dada introduced the Ladki Bahin scheme for us. It's a good initiative.
But Rs1,500 can't buy our respect for senior Pawar," said Kshama Sachdev, a homemaker. Her associates blew a tutari, the poll symbol of NCP (SCP), in unison. Seated on.