Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar declared on Thursday that his nephew, rebel NCP faction leader Ajit Pawar, will never ascend to the position of Chief Minister in Maharashtra.
Sharad Pawar/ File Pic
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar declared on Thursday that his nephew, rebel NCP faction leader Ajit Pawar, will never ascend to the position of Chief Minister in Maharashtra. Speaking to reporters in Akola, he also predicted the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) eventual loss of power in the state, stated a report in PTI.
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Addressing the speculation surrounding Ajit Pawar's potential appointment as Chief Minister, Sharad Pawar firmly stated, "Ajit Pawar becoming Chief Minister will remain nothing more than a dream."
Reportedly, Sharad Pawar expressed his confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (under Sharad Pawar's leadership), and Congress, would regain control in Maharashtra after the 2024 elections. He pointed out that although the BJP had managed to attain power in certain states by fracturing other political parties, it was not in control in 70 per cent of states.
Regarding Prakash Ambedkar's decision to join the Opposition's INDIA alliance, Sharad Pawar expressed his approval. He acknowledged that Chhagan Bhujbal, a former colleague, had once proposed Supriya Sule for the position of NCP president, but Bhujbal himself had since switched sides.
Sharad Pawar also commented on the potential formation of a new party by BJP leader Pankaja Munde, suggesting it would likely receive a positive response.
Supriya Sule on Sharad Pawar's resignation
Pawar's daughter and NCP's working president Supriya Sule, meanwhile said that the political heavyweight did not want to tender his resignation and that it was a fallout of the insistence of some leaders of the NCP wanting to go with BJP. She said in her response to Chhagan Bhujbal's claims that Sharad Pawar was not ready to go with the BJP and become a part of the government.
Chhagan Bhujbal had previously claimed that Sharad Pawar wanted to make Supriya Sule the party chief and then side with the BJP.
She also said that her father had no prior knowledge of Ajit Pawar and eight other leaders swearing in as ministers and joining the Shinde-led government.
"The decision (to join the Eknath Shinde-led BJP-Shiv Sena government) was taken by keeping him (Sharad Pawar) in the dark," she was quoted as saying.
With PTI inputs
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