The frequent meetings between Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Nationalist Congress chief Sharad Pawar have created a buzz amid political circles questioning if junior Pawar has offered any position to his uncle in the coalition government in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bala Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut said that there is no possibility of Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party like his nephew Ajit Pawar did a couple of months back as senior Pawar is rebuilding his party.
Raut told the media, “I don't think Sharad Pawar will join hands with the BJP till the time he lives. He is rebuilding his party.”
The two parties of Raut and Sharad Pawa are in an allyship in Maharashtra.
Recently, a meeting that took place between Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at the residence of a businessman in Pune on Saturday has led to curiosity among political circles.
Sanjay Raut answering to a question about Ajit Pawar giving any offer to senior Pwar during the said meeting, said, “When did Ajit Pawar become so big to give an offer to Sharad Pawar."
Raut added, "It is Sharad Pawar who made Ajit Pawar. Sharad Pawar has been the chief minister of the state for four terms and served as the Union minister multiple times.”
A few days back, an editorial in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' said the frequent meetings between Sharad Pawar and his nephew were tarnishing the image of the NCP founder. The daily also pointed out that the two have been meeting quite frequently and Sharad Pawar has not been avoiding it.
After the meeting in Pune last month, Sharad Pawar and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar brushed it off saying it was not a secret meeting, amid overtures from the rebel NCP camp led by Ajit Pawar to senior Pawar to give them his blessings.
Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said that some people in the party have taken a different path, but "once they realize the situation, their stand may change” while speaking in his hometown Baramati. He also added, "Whether they change their stand or not, we will not deviate from the path we have chosen.”
Further, Pawar said, “I have told Maharashtra (voters) to vote for someone. And now, I can not tell them to vote for someone whom we have opposed all along.”