17 August,2023 07:32 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
Chandrashekhar Bawankule. File Pic
Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday expressed confidence that NCP founder Sharad Pawar will one day support Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his vision to make India strong and self-reliant, reported the PTI.
The BJP leader was speaking to reporters at Nagpur airport in Maharashtra in response to a query on the recent meeting between Sharad Pawar and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who joined the Eknath Shinde-led government along with eight Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs last month.
The 'secret' meeting in Pune last week between the two Pawars created a buzz. Sharad Pawar is still a member of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance which includes the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress.
Sena (UBT) and Congress have expressed concern over the meeting between the two leaders.
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When asked about it, Bawankule said, "Sharad Pawar has himself clarified that it was a family meeting."
"I feel that Sharad Pawar will one day support Modiji in his vision and dream of making India strong and 'aatmanirbhar'," he said.
Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of breaking duly elected governments in various states, even as the ruling party spoke of providing a stable government.
"You talk of providing a stable government but break duly elected governments in states," NCP chief Sharad Pawar said while addressing a public rally in Beed, according to the PTI.
Sharad Pawar also stated that PM Modi is following in the footsteps of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis by including a 'mi punha yein' (I'll come back again) element in his Independence Day speech. "Fadnavis did not return as CM, but came back at a lower position. One wonders what will he (Modi) return as," he said, according to the PTI.
(with PTI inputs)
