NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal being welcomed by party supporters in Thane. , Photo Credit: ANI
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief is accusing Sharad Pawar of pulling back every time Despite his frequent talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rebel NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who has joined Ajit Pawar’s camp, on Monday said all 54 MLAs, including senior Pawar loyalists Jayant Patil and Rohit Pawar, had signed a letter a few months back saying that the NCP should be brought under the BJP. should go with ,
Speaking in Pune, Mr. Bhujbal cited Mr. Pawar’s frequent ups and downs in political behavior as the reason for finally parting ways with the NCP patron.
“In 2014, I fought against the BJP and PM Modi… But then, apparently there was an agreement whereby the BJP said they would leave the Shiv Sena, and the NCP would leave the Congress. We left Congress in an hour… While we did not join the government then, again in 2017 talks were going on between some leaders from our side and some leaders from BJP side after which it was decided that BJP NCP Will take along and form the government. Again in 2019 there was an agreement [between BJP and NCP] That he would quit the army and form the government with us…Sharad Pawar supported it at first, but then went ahead and formed the government with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena,” said Mr. Bhujbal, a prominent OBC leader in the state.
Noting that the majority within the NCP was upset by such upheavals, he said two-three months ago, all 54 NCP MLAs, including Sharad Pawar’s faction state president Jayant Patil and Mr Pawar’s grandson, MLA Rohit Pawar had said in the signed letter that the NCP should go with the BJP.
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When asked why he had not told Mr Pawar, 82, that he was going to take oath as a minister on July 2, Mr Bhujbal quipped: “He [Sharad Pawar] He never tells us when he resigns or takes back his resignation. When he discusses with BJP in Delhi he never says…So, why should I tell him what I was going to do…45 MLAs of NCP were present there [at the swearing-in of ministers of Ajit Pawar’s camp], Should I be fighting alone all the time?”
At the same time, Mr. Bhujbal emphasized that the rebel NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar has not merged with the BJP and that he himself stands firm on the progressive ideals of Mahatma Phule, reformer-king Rajarshi Shahu and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
“We stand firm on our principles. We have not left the path of Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar.
After a visit to Phule Wada in Pune city, Mr Bhujbal lauded the Shinde-Fadnavis government for resolving several long-standing issues.
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“I was trying in vain to install pictures of Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule in the Mantralaya [at the time of Uddhav Thackeray’s MVA government]…But when I requested Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and CM Eknath Shinde, the work was completed within one-and-a-half months,” Mr. Bhujbal said.
He credited Mr. Fadnavis for playing a key role in upholding OBC reservation in local body elections.
Meanwhile, Rohit Pawar, one of the handful of NCP MLAs left with Sharad Pawar, today said that if Ajit Pawar had stayed with the MVA alliance, he would have had better chances of becoming chief minister in 2024 as the wind was blowing against the BJP-Eknath. Shinde-led Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.
Rohit, who is Sharad Pawar’s grandson, also made it clear that he would not contest against Ajit Pawar from the Baramati assembly constituency, even if he was asked to do so.
“due to this [Sharad] Pawar Sahab’s vision and work done by Ajit BapuIn Baramati, people will vote for Ajit Pawar only. On the other hand, people are not happy with Ajit Pawar’s decision. [to go with BJP]I am sure they will vote for him on election day,” said Mr. Rohit Pawar.
Amidst the ruckus in NCP After the split, today one more MLA joined the rebel camp.
Makarand Patil, NCP MLA from Wai in Maharashtra’s Satara district, said he decided to join the Ajit Pawar camp in the hope of rescuing two financially distressed sugar mills in his constituency and ushering in development there.
Notably, Mr Patil was present during Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar’s visit to Karad city on July 3, a day after Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government.
The reversal of Mr. Patil is emblematic of the moves adopted by the NCP’s top leadership, starting with Sharad Pawar himself.