Sharad Pawar Tells Supporters to Ignore Ajit

Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday asked the party leaders to not pay attention to the remarks of his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy chief Ajit Pawar.  Mr. Pawar also made it clear that he never called the Ajit Pawar faction for any meeting after they decided to join the Shiv Sen-BJP government.

In his party’s conclave at Karjat in Raigad district, Ajit Pawar on Friday claimed that the NCP founder was on board when he decided to join the Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis government in July.  However, he did a volte face by keeping other party leaders in dark.

Sharad Pawar, who had founded the NCP more than two decades ago, on Saturday held a meeting of the party office bearers and leaders including state unit chief Jayant Patil and senior leader Eknath Khadse in Pune. Referring to the Ajit Pawar led faction’s decision to join the Eknath Shinde government, the NCP founder said that there is no reason to worry over the political development in the state.

“There is no reason to worry about what happened. We will give a different direction to the politics of Maharashtra.  We will give opportunities to new people in the current situation. When the elections will be held in the coming days, Maharashtra will see the emergence of party youth leaders. There is a big opportunity for you (youth). Let’s convey the party’s thoughts to the last man. Maharashtra will get new leadership,” he said.

Mr. Pawar said that  there is no need to pay attention to the criticism. He also said that he had opposed the idea to go with the BJP. “If anyone (read Ajit led faction) did suggest that we should support the BJP contrary to the stand we had taken, (even) then many in the party including me did not agree with that (suggestion). Our stand not to go with the BJP was very clear even today," he said.

Taking jibe at his nephew, the NCP founder said that if anyone who had taken the oath of office in the wee hours was claiming that it was the party's policy, he should not be taken seriously. “Let them make any statement, what is the truth in it?,” he asked.    

When asked about the Ajit Pawar led faction’s announcement to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election on four seats including Baramati, which is represented by Supriya Sule, Mr. Pawar said that everyone is free to contest elections anywhere in the democratic country.