| Sule will file her nomination tomorrow. The election was necessitated by the death of NCP leader Vasant Chavan, who had completed less than a quarter of his term. |
| Whispers that Sule was going to take over her father's mantle started nearly three years ago when she began attending functions related to schools, particularly those run for the benefit of denotified tribes. |
| She also took special interest in the education of differently abled children, organising those who worked in these facilities and holding dharnas at Mantralaya. |
| She made news when she criticised the state government, in which the NCP is a partner, for neglecting education. |
| Until two weeks ago, it was widely assumed that Vasant Chavan's widow, a government servant, would get the seat. In fact, two weeks ago, she quit her government job, obviously following assurances that she would be the NCP nominee. Pawar seems to have changed his mind at the last minute. |
| Supriya Sule is seen at all the meetings at her father's residence although she is not around at the political meetings yet. It is hardly a secret that there is a parallel government in Maharashtra""working out of the residence of Sharad Pawar. |
| Sule's elevation comes at a time Raj Thackeray, too, is trying to build an independent political future. Both come in the category of youth leaders but Thackeray has the advantage of playing a lead role in the Shiv Sena since the age of 18. |
| The other power centre in Maharashtra is Narayan Rane, who has just left the Shiv Sena. Eventually, Sule and Rane will fight each other for the leadership of the Maratha community. Sule has a distinct edge because of her father. |
| Sule will also have to listen to cousin Ajit Pawar, though time is not far when they will confront each other. |
| Ajit Pawar is active in the organisation and if Sule is ambitious, she is bound to find out that she cannot have a political future until she controls the party. |
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