A covert rendezvous between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar on August 12th has generated confusion within the Maharashtra Opposition.
Responding to media inquiries on August 16th, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule stated, “I have not received any offers. I’ve noticed some discounts on groceries for August 15th, those are the only offers I’m aware of.” Sule’s comments were in reference to speculation about her being offered a union ministry portfolio by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if Sharad Pawar were to align with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
These questions arose following assertions of ‘behind-the-scenes discussions’ made by Congress leaders, including prominent figures like former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and former cabinet minister Vijay Wadettiwar.
Against the backdrop of ongoing instability in Maharashtra politics, there are conjectures that several individuals from the Sharad Pawar faction may be considering a switch to Ajit Pawar’s side. Ajit Pawar orchestrated a vertical split within the NCP and joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra as the deputy chief minister on July 2nd.
A secret meeting between the two Pawars on August 12th stirred uncertainty within the Opposition, prompting Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress to express discomfort and direct questions to the NCP supremo.
On August 12th, Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar convened at the residence of businessman Atul Chordiya in Pune’s Koregaon Park. While Sharad Pawar referred to the meeting as a “personal visit,” Sule clarified its purpose on August 16th.
Sule remarked, “The Pawars and the Chordiya family share a long-standing relationship predating my or Ajit dada’s birth. Sharad Pawar and Atul Chordiya’s fathers were college friends. The Pawar family’s interaction with the Chordiya family is nothing unusual or surprising. We have maintained a warm relationship for many years. This is well-known.”
In the aftermath of the meeting, both Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress called upon Sharad Pawar to elucidate his stance.
Addressing the media in Solapur on August 13th, Sharad Pawar stated, “As the national president of the NCP, I want to clarify that my party (NCP) will not align with the BJP. Any association with the Bharatiya Janata Party contradicts NCP’s political principles.” This came shortly after he shared a stage with BJP leader and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis in Solapur.
He further added, “What’s wrong with meeting my nephew? If a senior member of a family wishes to meet another family member, there shouldn’t be any issue with that.”
