Ajit Pawar is trying to poach MPs from Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut alleged on Friday. His statement came a day after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajith met the senior Pawar in New Delhi.
According to Raut BJP has instructed Ajith To break the NCP (SP). “Ajit Pawar has been asked to rope in at least five to six NCP MPs under the leadership of Sharad Pawar. Ajit has been told that if he puts any of his leaders in the Union ministry, he has to break Sharad Pawar,” Raut alleged.
The Sena (UBT) leader’s statement came two days after BJP spokesperson Praveen Darekar indicated that some MPs from Sharad Pawar’s party were in touch with the BJP and were likely to join the grand coalition. Darekar claimed that MPs were worried as Mahayuti candidates won most of the assembly seats in their parliamentary constituencies.
Raut said Sharad Pawar will not join hands with the saffron party no matter what BJP does. “Sharad Pawar is a secular leader. He will never join hands with a party that tries to divide the people of the country in the name of religion,” he said.
In the recent assembly elections, the NCP (SP) managed to win only 10 seats compared to its performance in the Lok Sabha elections where it emerged as the top party in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
On Thursday, when Ajith met Sharad Pawar, he told reporters that they discussed various issues, including the Parbhani demolition, cabinet expansion, and the functioning of Parliament. Meanwhile, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare said there was no discussion about reunion. “Don’t go into that topic… we met Sharad Pawar to wish him on his birthday,” he said.
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