Vote for my Lok Sabha candidate, Ajit Pawar tells supporters; takes veiled jibe at Sharad Pawar's age

Ajit Pawar. File Pic

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday took a veiled jibe at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar by asking his supporters to listen to him "like they listened to a senior" earlier and also alluded to the latter's age with a "last election" comment, reported news agency PTI.

Ajit Pawar tells supporters: "You listened to a senior for so many years"

Ajit Pawar split the NCP in July last year and joined the Eknath Shinde government along with eight MLAs. He has since then routinely justified his revolt by saying elders, a reference to octogenarian Sharad Pawar, should have given way to the next generation.

"You listened to a senior for so many years. Now listen to me and vote for the Lok Sabha candidate I am going to field. I can then tell Prime Minister Narendra Modi that people have voted for my candidate. Do not forget who came to help when you were in trouble," the Deputy CM told a gathering in Baramati in Pune district, reported PTI.

The Baramati MLA also told the gathering that "if you want to do good work, then you must be ready to accept some criticism for it".

Ajit Pawar tells supporters: "I do not know when some people are going to stop"

Attacking Sharad Pawar without taking his name, the Deputy CM said, "I do not know when some people are going to stop. There might be a sentimental appeal that this would be the last election. Do not know which will be the last election," reported PTI.

Sharad Pawar has remained undefeated in Assembly and Lok Sabha polls since the late 1960s and is currently a Rajya Sabha member.

Meanwhile, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday said Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal was trying to "damage" Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis with his statements about the Maratha reservation, reported PTI.

The minister has accused the state government of facilitating "backdoor entry" of the Maratha community into the OBC quota and claimed that he resigned from the state cabinet in November last year, reported PTI.

Bhujbal, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP, has alleged that the process of gathering data to determine the Maratha community's backwardness through a survey by the state backward classes commission is flawed.

Speaking to reporters at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna, Jarange rubbished Bhujbal's allegations that fake and overwritten records were being used to get the reservation for the Maratha community, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)