Exactly a year ago on this day, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar had grabbed the nation's attention by campaigning at a poll rally in Satara under a downpour, which ultimately led to an unexpected mega-setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

A year later on Sunday (October 18, 2020), the never-say-die Pawar again went to the electorate of the region, this time battered by last week's heavy rain and floods, which has so far claimed around 30 lives.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar who was on Marathwada tour on Sunday said that he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pursue help for farmers who have suffered losses amid heavy rains in state. Pawar visited Kankarbawadi, Sastur villages in Osmanabad district on Sunday and interacted with farmers affected by the recent rains.

48 people have lost their lives in Pune, Konkan and Aurangabad divisions while lakhs of hectares of agricultural land have witnessed destruction amid heavy rains. 29 people have lost lives in rain-related incidents in Pune division, 16 in central Maharashtra's Aurangabad division, which covers Osmanabad and three fatalities in coastal Konkan.

PTI quoted him as saying, "The central government should help the farmers here and for that, I will meet the prime minister along with other Members of Parliament." Pawar stated that the state government has its limits in helping farmers affected by the rains and claimed that the central government should extend aid.

"I have told other Members of Parliament that we will go to New Delhi in the next eight to ten days and have a meeting with the prime minister on this. The remedy for the issue must be found by the state and the Centre together,” he added.

(With inputs from IANS)