Ajit Pawar: Ajit & Co pay surprise visit to Sharad Pawar, urge him to keep NCP united | India News
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According to a close associate, Pawar was taken aback when Ajit Pawar, along with all the other eight NCP ministers and Praful Patel, walked in for an unscheduled meeting at the Y B Chavan Center.Ajit Pawar had earlier visited the senior Pawar’s residence on Friday to meet his aunt Pratibha Pawar who had undergone a surgery. The deputy CM had described it as a personal matter, underlining the distinction between politics and family.
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NCP Rajya Sabha member Praful Patel, who spearheaded the idea of paying a surprise visit to Pawar, said it was an unscheduled courtesy call. “Sharad Pawar is our God, beacon, and mentor. We came here to seek his blessings to work and keep the party united. He listened to us patiently but did not react,’’ Patel said.
Patel said the group had no appointment; when they learnt that the senior Pawar was at his Y B Chavan Center office, they decided to take a chance. Along with Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel, NCP cabinet members Dilip Walse Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dhananjay Munde, Hasan Mushriff, Aditi Tatkare and deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal were present. Sharad Pawar was flanked by Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil and Jeetendra Awhad.
Jayant Patil said the rebel group apologised to the senior Pawar and urged him to find a mutually acceptable solution so that the party could remain united. “Pawar heard them out patiently, but did not respond to their plea,’’ he said. According to sources, Pawar, at a meeting with party office bearers, has already indicated that he will not align with BJP.
Patil said NCP has made its stand clear to remain in the opposition for the duration of the monsoon session beginning Monday. “We have a strength of 20 in the legislative assembly, they believe in Sharad Pawar’s ideology,’’ Patil said.
From Praful Patel’s proposal, sources said it appears that the rebel group is keen that the entire NCP support the BJP-led government. “Patel has proposed a united NCP, which means that Sharad Pawar should extend support to the present government. But then, NCP will have to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha and assembly elections under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Sharad Pawar will never agree to such a proposal,’’ a senior NCP leader said.
For NCP to stay united, Sharad Pawar will have to withdraw proceedings seeking disqualification of nine cabinet members, who have joined the government. Currently, by most indications, two-thirds of the MLAs are said to be backing Ajit Pawar. The Ajit camp has also filed an application before the Election Commission of India for him to be made NCP president.
Watch Ajit Pawar faction leaders meet NCP chief Sharad Pawar at Yashwantrao Chavan Center; No big deal in it, says Devendra Fadnavis
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