Sharad Pawar halts convoy at Bhavaninagar to meet labour leader Yuvraj Ranavare during drought tour

Senior leader Sharad Pawar was travelling from Baramati towards Indapur on Sunday to review the drought situation when his convoy stopped abruptly at Bhavaninagar. Pawar asked for the convoy to be halted on spotting labour leader Yuvraj Ranavare standing near the Chhatrapati Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana with his associates to welcome him.

After accepting a bouquet from Ranavare, Pawar spoke to him for a short while and then left for the next leg of his tour. The unexpected meeting became a talking point in the area.

Pawar began a tour of four talukas on Sunday to review the drought situation. After finishing his engagements in Baramati, his convoy set off for Indapur at around 3 pm. On learning that the convoy would pass through Bhavaninagar, Ranavare and a few associates waited to welcome him on the Palkhi Highway, in front of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Chhatrapati factory.

The factory's cane crushing season is under way, so the area was busy with bullock carts, tractors and other vehicles carrying sugarcane. As Pawar's drought-tour schedule was packed, Ranavare was not sure whether he would stop. But after crossing the bridge over the Nira Left Canal, Pawar reached the petrol pump, noticed Ranavare waiting to welcome him, and his convoy stopped.

Ranavare said the factory's chairman, Prithviraj Jachak, was aware of his meeting. He also recalled that during the campaign of graduates' constituency candidate Harshada Deshmukh, he had prayed at the feet of Goddess Bhavani for her victory.

Describing Sharad Pawar's contribution in the labour sector as significant, Ranavare said Pawar's role had been important in securing wage increases for workers, and the working class would never forget his contribution. Ranavare also said the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had done valuable work for workers as well. He said that whenever members of the Pawar family pass through Bhavaninagar, they have kept up the tradition of welcoming them.

The meeting at Bhavaninagar lasted just two minutes and is being discussed in the area. Pawar has begun a tour of four talukas to review the drought situation, and Indapur was his next stop after Baramati.