Maharashtra politics: Sharad Pawar slams door on nephew Ajit

Ajit Pawar, deputy CM and Sharad Pawar, NCP chief

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar has shut the door on nephew Ajit Pawar. He said on Friday in Satara that Ajit has wasted the opportunity he was given to make amends, especially in the wake of his swearing-in with Devendra Fadnavis in 2019. One should not demand any more chances, and we too are unwilling to offer any more (to Ajit). He was given a chance after the oath ceremony of the two leaders.

One should not demand any more chances, and we too are unwilling to offer any more (to Ajit). He was given a chance after the oath ceremony of the two leaders. One of them was from among us. He was given an opportunity to correct the mistakes," Pawar told the media persons ahead of Ajit's visit to his native place and constituency Baramati on Saturday.

Ajit's association with Fadnavis didn't last long in 2019. He returned to the party only to take charge of the deputy chief minister's office in the MVA government. Two and a half years later, he took eight MLAs with him to the Shinde-Fadnavis government in July.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is welcomed in Pimpri-Chinchwad by supporters on Friday. Pic/PTI

The uncle-nephew have met on multiple occasions since then, creating speculations about their intentions. Ajit has been attempting to get his switchover endorsed by Pawar senior, but hasn't succeeded yet.

The octogenarian has maintained that he had no plans to back the BJP and instead he will be part of the opposition bloc.

Camping in Pimpri Chinchwad, Ajit refused to discuss the uncle's statement. "I don't want to talk about anything else today. Please talk about what I have been saying here (at the press conference)," he stated. Ajit will receive a civic felicitation in Baramati on Saturday. It will be his first visit to the family fiefdom after the break-up. A day later he will address a public rally in Beed where his uncle had vowed to teach rebels a lesson.

Statement denied

Pawar senior had stopped at Satara on the way to Kolhapur. He clarified another statement that was attributed to him early in the morning. He was reported as saying that Ajit was also his leader. "I haven't said it. Supriya Sule may have said it because she can say it as Ajit's younger sister. Her simple statement should not be taken into account politically."

Split or not?

In another reiteration, Pawar senior said his NCP was not split. "The party doesn't split if some people have taken a different stand," he said.