Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar attacked nephew Ajit Pawar, who defected and became part of the Maharashtra government, and the MLAs of his faction without naming them.
Sharad Pawar said on Sunday that some members left the party because the Central Government had started an investigation against them through the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Without naming his nephew Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar said that he claimed that he wanted to be part of the government for development, but this is not true. A group of NCP legislators led by Ajit Pawar had rebelled last month and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government in Maharashtra.
Sharad Pawar claimed, “There were some changes in the past. Some of our members left us. They (Ajit Pawar faction) say that they went for development, but this is not at all true. The Center had started an ED probe against him and he left the NCP. Some members (of the Ajit Pawar faction) were told to come with them (BJP), else they would be sent elsewhere.”
Sharad Pawar addressed the party workers in a social media meeting organized by NCP on Sunday. During this meeting, he said these things.
Sharad Pawar said, “However, some members are ready to face the investigation.” (Former Home Minister) Anil Deshmukh was in jail for 14 months. Even Deshmukh was asked to change his allegiance, but he stuck to his decision (not to leave NCP).”
Ajit Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister in July, while eight of his supporting MLAs took oath as ministers.
Sharad Pawar said that the state government should pay attention to the problems of the common people of Maharashtra. He said, “The state is facing a problem like unemployment, farmers are also worried.”
Significantly, Ajit Pawar had met Sharad Pawar at a businessman’s house in Pune recently. There were political speculations about this meeting. Although Sharad Pawar later said that he (Ajit Pawar) is a member of the family and can’t the family members meet each other?
After this, before Sharad Pawar’s rally held on Thursday in Beed, Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar’s faction had put up banners welcoming Sharad Pawar.
In these, Sharad Pawar was requested to give ‘blessings’ to the politically separated nephew. Ajit Pawar and his faction leaders call Sharad Pawar as their supreme leader.
