Rajya Sabha MP Supriya Sule, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate from the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, did not forget to touch her father Sharad Pawar's feet before casting her vote at 7.15 am yesterday.

Pawar, who is also the NCP boss, gave Supriya the ticket from the constituency, that he has nurtured for two decades. Pawar, who was dressed in a white shirt and trousers, true to tradition, placed his hands on her head, before both left for the Baramati polling station.

Blessed
"He did not say a word when I touched his feet, but flashed a broad smile. I made it a point to seek his blessings because nothing else is more important to me," said Sule.

Pawar is contesting the Madha Lok Sabha seat, 120 km from Baramati.

Pawar waved at the crowd of voters assembled at the polling station, and even obliged photographers by posing twice before the electronic voting machine.

Pawar is contesting from Madha in Solapur district. The delimited Baramati constituency in Pune district is considered a Pawar bastion, as his supporters dominate the local self-government bodies and sugar cooperatives in the region.