I am the eldest…”: Sharad Pawar did not accept the offer to join the Prime Minister’s Cabinet
The meeting between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar caused unrest in the alliance of Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)
As pressure mounts on Maharashtra’s opposition coalition over a meeting between Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar, the veteran politician has refuted claims that he was offered a union ministership in exchange for leaving the INDIA bloc and joining the BJP.
The meeting took place at the Pune businessman’s residence on Saturday, more than a month after Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP leaders joined the BJP-backed Eknath Shinde-led government. Since then, both factions have been fighting to control the NCP.
The meeting sparked speculation that Ajit Pawar may be trying to convince Sharad Pawar, a key figure in the opposition group INDIA Blok, to switch allegiance. Pawar later said that some “well-wishers” had tried to get him to commit to the BJP, but added that he had no such plan. Asked about Mr Chavan’s remark, Mr Pawar today said: “I have no idea what the former CM said. There was no such discussion. I do not deny that the meeting took place, but as the head of the family I talk to everyone. The family members. These are just rumors, but there is no reality.”
“I’m the oldest person in the group who proposed to me,” asked the veteran
Earlier, Mr. Pawar also emphasized that Ajit Pawar is his nephew and their meeting is natural.
The meeting in turn caused unrest in the alliance between the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). Sanjay Raut, an MP and aide to Uddhav Thackeray, said that Mr. Pawar is the “Bhishma Pitamaha” of Maharashtra politics and he “should not do anything to raise doubts among people”. Tensions in the alliance are unpleasant, especially before the next meeting of the INDIA bloc in Mumbai. Mr. Pawar confirmed today that the meeting will be held on August 31 and the Sabha will be held the next day.
Targeting the BJP, he accused it of dividing the nation
