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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar addressed recent controversies surrounding his caste identity, asserting his stance on transparency during a statement on Tuesday. Pawar emphasized that he has never concealed his caste and has refrained from utilizing it as a tool for political gain throughout his career.
Pawar’s statement surfaces following the circulation of a purported certificate on social media suggesting his classification as belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. However, NCP MP and Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule, promptly dismissed the document as counterfeit, casting doubt on its authenticity.
The veteran politician hails from the influential Maratha community, constituting a significant portion, over 30%, of Maharashtra’s population. Despite his lineage from this dominant group, Pawar’s recent affirmation of transparency regarding his caste reflects his commitment to avoiding the politicization of such categorizations in his political journey.
The viral circulation of the OBC certificate and subsequent denial by his daughter underlines the sensitivity surrounding caste politics in Maharashtra, a state with diverse social strata and intricate caste dynamics.
Pawar’s forthright stance aims to dispel any misconceptions or attempts to leverage his caste identity for political motives, emphasizing his dedication to principled and issue-centric governance over divisive categorizations.
