Huge placards with Sharad Pawar's image and a message written in Marathi, "Jikad Mhatar Firtay, Tikad Changbhal Hotay (Wherever the old man goes, victory follows)", were ubiquitous at NCP(SP)'s rallies.

This high-stakes family clash comes on the heels of the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, where NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule defeated Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra, by a margin of over 1.5 lakh votes,

The counting of votes began at 8:00 am for all seats in Pune district. All eyes are on the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance that is seeking to make a comeback.

PUNE: The passage of time seemed momentarily suspended at Bhigwan Chowk, Baramati's political epicentre as the constituency stepped into a new chapter on Saturday, with Tennyson's words echoing powerfully: "The old order changeth,