NCP chief Ajit Pawar is known for speaking his mind — a trait that has landed him in trouble many times. However, it is his latest statements that have triggered buzz in Maharashtra and led his supporters to wonder if he is contemplating returning to uncle Sharad Pawar.
During the ‘Jan Samman Yatra’, while addressing a gathering in Gadchiroli, Ajit Pawar said: “Society doesn’t like rifts in families.” Though he was addressing the crowd, he was also trying to convince minister Atram’s daughter who is determined to contest against her father in the upcoming state assembly polls. Bhagyashree Atram had announced that she would contest the elections on a ticket from the NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar.
This is not the first time Ajit Pawar has made controversial statements after his party’s poor performance. After losing the Baramati bastion to Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar admitted that it was a mistake to field his wife against the NCP veteran’s daughter.
Hurt by the defeat in the recently held Lok Sabha elections, especially on his home turf, Ajit Pawar recently said the constituency should get a new MLA so that people can understand the true development that has taken place in the region.
“We have carried out all-round development in Baramati. Most funds in Maharashtra are sanctioned for Baramati. I am 65 years old now and satisfied. Baramatikars should get someone other than me as MLA. They can then compare the new MLA with me,” he said. While local party workers are urging Ajit Pawar to give the ticket to his son Jay Pawar from Baramati, no official announcement has been made by the NCP.
Reacting to Ajit Pawar’s statements, Mahesh Tapase, leader and spokesperson of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction, said: “I feel he should act on them and hand over the party name and leadership to Sharad Pawar. Only then will we believe that Ajit Pawar feels guilty for his actions.”
According to sources, the Mahayuti alliance is upset with Ajit Pawar’s statements as they indirectly suggest that he was under pressure to field a candidate against Supriya Sule. Mahayuti leaders believe that such statements, made just before the state assembly polls, will confuse voters and party workers.
Another incident that displeased BJP leaders was Ajit Pawar’s decision to skip a visit to the Hedgewar Memorial in Nagpur during his last visit. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis paid their respects at the memorial, but Ajit Pawar chose to leave for his next programme.
Political analysts believe that Ajit Pawar wants to maintain his secular identity and has clarified that his alliance with Mahayuti is based solely on a ‘development’ agenda.
Discussions in Maharashtra’s political circles have triggered speculation that Ajit Pawar may exit the alliance though sources close to the NCP leader have denied the rumours. However, one thing is certain — by openly admitting his mistakes, Ajit Pawar is sending an honest message to his supporters and voters that he needs another chance to fix issues, said analysts. If given the opportunity, he is ready to accept the challenge of transforming Maharashtra based solely on the agenda of development.
Will these ‘honest confessions’ become a headache for Mahayuti or will they help the alliance regain power in the state? The upcoming state assembly polls will hold the answer.
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