After Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar met his estranged uncle and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on his birthday on Thursday morning in Delhi after more than a year, the NCP dismissed speculations about a possible reunion of the two units.
“Don’t go into that topic… In our meeting with Pawar sahib, there was no discussion about politics,” NCP Maharashtra president Sunil Tatkare told this paper.
The sudden meeting between these two leaders started speculation in the political circles about the possible reunion of the two units of the CPN. Tatkare said it was not a “sudden” meeting but the occasion warranted them meeting the senior leader.
“We went to meet him to wish him on his birthday. No political issues were discussed,” he insisted.
Both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar were in their home ground Baramati during Diwali. Both celebrated Diwali at their respective residences and met citizens and party workers separately. For the first time in many years, both had decided to celebrate Diwali separately.
Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra, son Parth, leaders Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal met Pawar at his official residence in New Delhi on Thursday morning, where they were received by Lok Sabha Baramati MP Supriya Sule.
Although Sule embraced Sunetra Pawar, the two have not been on speaking terms since Sule defeated her sister-in-law from the Baramati constituency in the Lok Sabha elections in June this year. There was no communication between them before and after the election.
Ajit Pawar said they discussed several issues including the Parbhani vandalism and Maharashtra cabinet expansion, Sharad Pawar’s family said they were surprised by Ajit Pawar’s sudden visit.
The meeting was also held after the resounding victory of the Mahayuti alliance – in which Ajit Pawar was a key component – in the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly elections. The opposition Mahavikas Aghadi, which included Sharad Pawar’s party, suffered a heavy defeat.
Talking to reporters after meeting Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar said, “It’s Sahab’s birthday and aunty is celebrating her birthday tomorrow. That’s why I came to see them. After taking their blessings, we had a tea party and discussed about the vandalism in Parbhani, expansion of parliament, council of ministers, ongoing political debate, etc.
Meanwhile, his nephew Yugendra Pawar said that Ajit Pawar’s meeting with Sharad Pawar surprised them. “We didn’t know that Ajit Pawar is coming today… Politics and ideology should be on one side and family relations on the other… I think our family should be one even if Ajit Pawar is separated… Today’s meeting should be a step towards that. ” said Yugendra, who was in Delhi to wish Ujendra on his birthday.
Yugendra also denied that the two Pawar camps were vitriolic in the attack during the Maharashtra assembly election campaign. “Both sides did not criticize each other harshly. No one budged. Our family would never behave like that,” he said.
Criticizing Ajit Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, “If I had stabbed a leader like Sharad Pawar in the back, I would not have dared to look him in the eye. If I had done something wrong out of selfishness, I would have turned a blind eye to Balasaheb Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray.” It was my personal opinion, not my party’s.
Raut said, “First he (Ajit Pawar) criticizes Sharad Pawar and then goes to wish him on his birthday. Will Maharashtra approve of such behaviour?
MLA and grandson of Sharad Pawar Rohit Pawar said, “Ajit Pawar met Sharad Pawar along with other leaders. This is our culture and we must protect it.
Rohit said that sometimes when one leader meets another leader, all kinds of discussions take place. “It makes no sense… One should do politics of development and avoid bitterness. Bitterness fuels criticism, it does not help anyone,” he said.
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