News Analysis India

Tag: Sharad Pawar

  • Congress to decide on LoP in Lok Sabha: Sharad Pawar

    NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the Congress will decide on the appointment on the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha as it has maximum seats among the INDIA bloc parties in the Lower House of Parliament. Asked if efforts will be made to have the Lok Sabha’s deputy speaker from the opposition, Pawar claimed this “rule” was not followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his last government.

    “A discussion will take place on that point, but I do not think any fruitful outcome will be there from it,” he said.

    Pawar was speaking to reporters at Baramati in Maharashtra’s Pune district. The BJP won 240 seats in the recently held polls to the 543-member Lok Sabha and formed government with its partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

    Among the opposition INDIA bloc constituents, the Congress bagged the highest 99 seats.

    Asked about the appointment of the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Pawar said, “Earlier, we had agreed that the position would go to the party with the highest seats. Today, the Congress has the maximum seats (among opposition parties) in the Lok Sabha, so they will decide who should hold the position.” “After the Congress decides, it will need the consent of our (INDIA) bloc,” he said. On the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) success in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, Pawar claimed people have lost confidence in PM Modi and that “Modi’s guarantee” turned out to be fake.

    “The people of the state came to a conclusion that the promises he made in the last five years were not kept,” he said.

    The MVA, which comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) of Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP), bagged 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

    The ruling Mahayuti, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the NCP headed by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, got 17 seats.

  • Who Benefits From Shinde-Sena Vs Sena-UBT And NCP-Ajit Vs NCP-Sharad Battle In Maharashtra? |

    The Election Commission of India yesterday ruled in favour of the Ajit Pawar faction terming it the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The order came as a setback for Sharad Pawar as his party is set to challenge the order in the Supreme Court. However, it’s the BJP which may emerge as a winner in the battle of Shiv Sena and NCP. The BJP has allied with both the rebel factions – Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and NCP led by Ajit Pawar. This will boost the party’s prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls 2024. Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats and it will be crucial in BJP’s mission ‘Abki Bar 400 Paar’.

    With the recent political developments in Bihar, the BJP has already got an upper hand there and now it’s trying to better its poll prospects in Maharashtra. In the 2019 Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 out of the 48 seats. At that time, Shiv Sena was its ally, and it secured 18 seats. Thus the NDA had bagged 40 of the 48 seats. But since Uddhav Thackeray left the NDA and joined the Congress-NCP alliance, the BJP has recalibrated its strategy this time, sidelining Shiv Sena-UBT and Sharad Pawar-led NCP. With the NCP and Shiv Sena already splitting into two factions, the BJP stands to gain the seats where it has been traditionally weak earlier against NCP and Shiv Sena.

    Sharad Pawar, who separated from Congress to form the NCP in 1999, is now at the centre of a political storm. The recent political developments, including Ajit Pawar’s rebellion and NCP’s affiliation with Congress, have created uncertainty about how Sharad Pawar will lead the new party forward. While it is certain that Ajit Pawar’s entry and his leadership may attract the youth, the future remains uncertain.

    Sharad Pawar is still active in politics, but his influence is limited to certain regions. With the departure of prominent leaders like Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal, even his nephews joining politics has left a gap in his leadership. The split in the massive vote bank of the NCP is likely to benefit the BJP-led coalition. Sharad Pawar has mentioned bringing in new faces to the party, but for now, his nephew seems to be dominating the political scene.

    The split between Shiv Sena and NCP has significantly benefited the BJP. Not only did they come to power in the state, but they also weakened the opposition considerably. BJP’s leaders have gained a strong foothold. The impact of this realignment will be evident in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, it’s likely that Ajit Pawar’s NCP, if pitched against Sharad Pawar in the latter’s stronghold may not do well in some of those seats. Opposite to that, Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena is likely to do better against Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena because traditionally the Shiv Sena supporters have been against the Congress.

    The alliance with NCP in Maharashtra is expected to benefit the BJP in various regions, especially in western Maharashtra, where NCP has had a stronghold. The BJP’s strategy, if successful, could lead to achieving its goal of 45 seats and further consolidating its position in the state. The alliances with Shiv Sena and NCP may pave the way for an easier accomplishment of the “Mission 400+” in the upcoming elections.

  • NCP split: Sharad Pawar attends disqualification petition hearing; MP Sunil Tatkare cross examined

    Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar on Thursday attended the hearing at Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan of the disqualification petitions filed in connection with the split in the party in July last year after Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs joined the Ekanth Shinde government. The former Union minister was present for an hour at the hearing, being held by Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, while the Ajit Pawar faction was represented by Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare, sources said.

    Tatkare was cross examined by lawyers from the Sharad Pawar faction, they added.

    Incidentally, the Ajit Pawar faction has maintained the party has not split and has also questioned the internal election process prior to the events in July last year. Both factions have filed cross petitions with the speaker seeking disqualification of each other’s MLAs.

    The Supreme Court has set January 31 deadline for the speaker’s verdict in the NCP disqualification case.

  • NCP chief Sharad Pawar slams Maharashtra govt over women security, hospital deaths

    Express News Service

    Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Friday criticised the Maharashtra government over the issues related to the 19533 girls missing in the state as well as the “security” of women. This is the second time within a week that Pawar has criticised the home department, which is under the purview of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, regarding this matter.

    Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Pawar claimed that between January 1 and May 31 of this year, a total of 19,553 women were reported as “missing” from the state. “The government is not serious about the law and order situation in the state,” he alleged. 

    Pawar also slammed the government over the “contractual hiring” of personnel in Mumbai police. He said the state has taken the decision to conduct government recruitments on contract.

    Earlier this week, the Maharashtra government issued an order to hire 3,000 personnel from its own security corporation who will work under the Mumbai police.

    “On one hand a huge numbers of girls are missing while on the other hand, the state government has decided to hire the 11,203 police on contractual basis. The contract period will be for 11 months and after that what will happen with these youths, no one knows. Once the youth are hired as police, then what about their training and other facilities. We oppose this move. Those hired on contract should subsume government service,” said Pawar.

    He also expressed his concerns over the recent deaths in state-run hospitals and emphasised the need for permanent recruitment in the health department rather than relying on contractual hiring. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Friday criticised the Maharashtra government over the issues related to the 19533 girls missing in the state as well as the “security” of women. This is the second time within a week that Pawar has criticised the home department, which is under the purview of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, regarding this matter.

    Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Pawar claimed that between January 1 and May 31 of this year, a total of 19,553 women were reported as “missing” from the state. “The government is not serious about the law and order situation in the state,” he alleged. 

    Pawar also slammed the government over the “contractual hiring” of personnel in Mumbai police. He said the state has taken the decision to conduct government recruitments on contract.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Earlier this week, the Maharashtra government issued an order to hire 3,000 personnel from its own security corporation who will work under the Mumbai police.

    “On one hand a huge numbers of girls are missing while on the other hand, the state government has decided to hire the 11,203 police on contractual basis. The contract period will be for 11 months and after that what will happen with these youths, no one knows. Once the youth are hired as police, then what about their training and other facilities. We oppose this move. Those hired on contract should subsume government service,” said Pawar.

    He also expressed his concerns over the recent deaths in state-run hospitals and emphasised the need for permanent recruitment in the health department rather than relying on contractual hiring. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Sharad Pawar slams Union govt over onion export duty, Manipur violence, ‘misuse’ of probe agencies 

    By PTI

    KOLHAPUR (Maha): Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government over various issues including the hiked export duty on onions, violence in Manipur and `misuse’ of central agencies against political opponents.

    He was speaking at a rally in Kolhapur, the home district of rebel NCP leader Hasan Mushrif who joined the Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra last month.

    Pawar’s rally here was his third in the home districts of rebel NCP leaders.

    Earlier, he had held public meetings in Nashik and Beed, the respective home districts of Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde, both of whom have joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government.

    “Farmers need to recover the money spent on growing a crop and also get paid for their efforts. If that is to happen, onions have to be exported across the world. (But) The Modi government has imposed a steep (export) duty of 40 per cent, and now Indian onions do not get buyers (abroad). This led to a fall in onions prices (within India),” Pawar said.

    As agriculture minister (in the Congress-led UPA government between 2004 and 2014) he never imposed export duty on onions and always ensured that the crop was exported, he said.

    “This government’s policy is to come in the way of whatever farmers produce,” Pawar alleged.

    Farmers and traders have been protesting since Monday in Nashik district of Maharashtra against the Centre’s decision to impose a 40 per cent export duty on onions, which they claim will hinder exports and bring down the prices in the domestic markets.

    Pawar also attacked the Narendra Modi government for bringing in contentious farm laws which were withdrawn after massive protests, and said no government has insulted farmers more than the present dispensation.

    Two women were paraded naked amid the violence that broke out in Manipur in May, but those who wield power did not use it to save them, he said.

    Investments meant for Maharashtra are going to Gujarat which is depriving the youth in Maharashtra of employment opportunities, Pawar claimed.

    Alleging that “power is being used to oppress opponents,” he cited the examples of his party colleagues Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh and Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut.

    All three were jailed in various cases and are currently out on bail.

    Taking a swipe at Hasan Mushrif, whose properties were raided by the Enforcement Directorate, Pawar said the people who worked with him should have some self-respect.

    “The women of the family said `shoot us instead….we are ready for that.’ If a woman can say this…I have not heard the head of the family saying this,” Pawar said, in an apparent reference to Mushrif.

    After Mushrif’s residence was raided, his wife had told reporters that the authorities should “shoot us instead”.

    Pawar lauded the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists for the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Moon.

    Be it Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee or curent Prime Minister Narendra Modi, everyone took efforts to make ISRO a leading space organisation in the world, the NCP chief said.

    KOLHAPUR (Maha): Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government over various issues including the hiked export duty on onions, violence in Manipur and `misuse’ of central agencies against political opponents.

    He was speaking at a rally in Kolhapur, the home district of rebel NCP leader Hasan Mushrif who joined the Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra last month.

    Pawar’s rally here was his third in the home districts of rebel NCP leaders.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    Earlier, he had held public meetings in Nashik and Beed, the respective home districts of Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde, both of whom have joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government.

    “Farmers need to recover the money spent on growing a crop and also get paid for their efforts. If that is to happen, onions have to be exported across the world. (But) The Modi government has imposed a steep (export) duty of 40 per cent, and now Indian onions do not get buyers (abroad). This led to a fall in onions prices (within India),” Pawar said.

    As agriculture minister (in the Congress-led UPA government between 2004 and 2014) he never imposed export duty on onions and always ensured that the crop was exported, he said.

    “This government’s policy is to come in the way of whatever farmers produce,” Pawar alleged.

    Farmers and traders have been protesting since Monday in Nashik district of Maharashtra against the Centre’s decision to impose a 40 per cent export duty on onions, which they claim will hinder exports and bring down the prices in the domestic markets.

    Pawar also attacked the Narendra Modi government for bringing in contentious farm laws which were withdrawn after massive protests, and said no government has insulted farmers more than the present dispensation.

    Two women were paraded naked amid the violence that broke out in Manipur in May, but those who wield power did not use it to save them, he said.

    Investments meant for Maharashtra are going to Gujarat which is depriving the youth in Maharashtra of employment opportunities, Pawar claimed.

    Alleging that “power is being used to oppress opponents,” he cited the examples of his party colleagues Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh and Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut.

    All three were jailed in various cases and are currently out on bail.

    Taking a swipe at Hasan Mushrif, whose properties were raided by the Enforcement Directorate, Pawar said the people who worked with him should have some self-respect.

    “The women of the family said `shoot us instead….we are ready for that.’ If a woman can say this…I have not heard the head of the family saying this,” Pawar said, in an apparent reference to Mushrif.

    After Mushrif’s residence was raided, his wife had told reporters that the authorities should “shoot us instead”.

    Pawar lauded the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists for the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Moon.

    Be it Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee or curent Prime Minister Narendra Modi, everyone took efforts to make ISRO a leading space organisation in the world, the NCP chief said.

  • Pawar ‘balm’ for opposition: NCP leader asserts he won’t quit Maha Vikas Aghadi, slams BJP

    By IANS

    MUMBAI: Under a cloud for the past few days, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar on Wednesday reiterated his loyalty to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), and also launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    “There’s no question of joining the BJP… I am very much with the MVA and we are preparing for the upcoming national opposition alliance meeting in Mumbai,” Pawar told media persons in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, scotching all political speculation.

    He also rubbished reports that the MVA allies Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT) have allegedly kept ‘Plan B’ or ‘Plan C’ ready to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha, Assembly, or civic elections minus the NCP (SP).

    Congress’ Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar and ex-Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan have contended that the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid a precondition for Ajit Pawar that he could be the CM only if he succeeds in bringing along his uncle to the saffron fold, and he would be rewarded with a Central Cabinet berth or the chairmanship of NITI Aayog.

    “There is no such thing… This rumour is only in the media, the reality is different. When I met Ajit Pawar last week, he did not bring up any such proposal for me,” said Pawar, referring to Wadettiwar and Pawar’s charges on Pawar uncle-nephew’s ‘secret’ meeting recently.

    Training guns on the BJP and Modi, Sharad Pawar said that the saffron party is indulging in spreading hatred among the people and its decisions result in dispute or bitterness among various castes/religions in the society.

    “On the day of the no-confidence motion, the PM spoke on Manipur for 2 minutes and on other issues for 2 hours… He did not think it was important or that he should go to Manipur and boost the peoples’ confidence there,” Pawar said.

    A former Union Defence Minister, Pawar cautioned that Manipur is near the China border and hence more attention is required, but everything happening there for the past over three months is dangerous for the country.

    Taking a dig, Pawar referred also to Modi’s I-Day speech where he declared that he would return to power in 2024.

    “The current mood in the country is not conducive for the BJP’s return… No matter how much he claims to ‘come back’, he will end up like Devendra Fadnavis,” said Pawar, in a swipe at Fadnavis’ often-repeated slogan of ‘Mee Punha Yaeen’ (I will return) during the 2019 election campaign.

    The NCP supremo also said that efforts are underway to undermine elected Opposition parties’ state governments as was seen in Goa, Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra and elsewhere.

    He said the people will not tolerate all this anymore and they will teach the BJP a lesson.

    MUMBAI: Under a cloud for the past few days, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar on Wednesday reiterated his loyalty to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), and also launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    “There’s no question of joining the BJP… I am very much with the MVA and we are preparing for the upcoming national opposition alliance meeting in Mumbai,” Pawar told media persons in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, scotching all political speculation.

    He also rubbished reports that the MVA allies Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT) have allegedly kept ‘Plan B’ or ‘Plan C’ ready to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha, Assembly, or civic elections minus the NCP (SP).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Congress’ Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar and ex-Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan have contended that the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid a precondition for Ajit Pawar that he could be the CM only if he succeeds in bringing along his uncle to the saffron fold, and he would be rewarded with a Central Cabinet berth or the chairmanship of NITI Aayog.

    “There is no such thing… This rumour is only in the media, the reality is different. When I met Ajit Pawar last week, he did not bring up any such proposal for me,” said Pawar, referring to Wadettiwar and Pawar’s charges on Pawar uncle-nephew’s ‘secret’ meeting recently.

    Training guns on the BJP and Modi, Sharad Pawar said that the saffron party is indulging in spreading hatred among the people and its decisions result in dispute or bitterness among various castes/religions in the society.

    “On the day of the no-confidence motion, the PM spoke on Manipur for 2 minutes and on other issues for 2 hours… He did not think it was important or that he should go to Manipur and boost the peoples’ confidence there,” Pawar said.

    A former Union Defence Minister, Pawar cautioned that Manipur is near the China border and hence more attention is required, but everything happening there for the past over three months is dangerous for the country.

    Taking a dig, Pawar referred also to Modi’s I-Day speech where he declared that he would return to power in 2024.

    “The current mood in the country is not conducive for the BJP’s return… No matter how much he claims to ‘come back’, he will end up like Devendra Fadnavis,” said Pawar, in a swipe at Fadnavis’ often-repeated slogan of ‘Mee Punha Yaeen’ (I will return) during the 2019 election campaign.

    The NCP supremo also said that efforts are underway to undermine elected Opposition parties’ state governments as was seen in Goa, Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra and elsewhere.

    He said the people will not tolerate all this anymore and they will teach the BJP a lesson.

  • Sharad Pawar could have avoided sharing stage with Modi to dispel doubts, says Shiv Sena (UBT)

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday said NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who shared stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Tilak National Award ceremony in Pune, could have stayed away from the event “to clear doubts about him.

    The editorial in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ claimed that Modi accused the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) of corruption and then engineered a split in the party and muddied the politics in Maharashtra.

    “Still, Sharad Pawar will welcome Modi and this has not gone down well with some people. This was a good opportunity for Pawar to turn his back on the programme and clear the doubts about him among people,” the Marathi daily said.

    Later in the day, former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan said such incidents lead to confusion and Pawar should make his position clear.

    “I don’t think participating in such events is wrong. (But) All important opposition parties have come under the banner of INDIA alliance. Such incidents create an atmosphere of confusion,” the Congress leader said.

    “If a senior leader like Pawar makes his position clear then it will be much better,” Chavan said.

    PM Modi was on a visit to Pune on Tuesday to launch various development projects and also receive the Lokmanya Tilak National Award, instituted by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust in 1983 to honour the legacy of Lokmanya Tilak.

    Notably, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar last month led a split in the NCP and joined the Shinde government along with eight other party MLAs.

    The Saamana editorial said if Sharad Pawar would have stayed away from the event to protest against the engineering of the split in the NCP, his leadership and courage would have been appreciated.

    The country is fighting against dictatorship and the INDIA alliance comprising 26 opposition parties has been formed for the purpose, it said.

    Sharad Pawar is the “leading general” of the alliance, it claimed.

    There are different expectations of people from a senior leader like Sharad Pawar, the Marathi publication said.

    “PM Modi is not ready to speak on the violence in Manipur. It is not in national interest for the country’s leader to not speak on the issue,” the editorial said.

    There are protests against the prime minister in Pune and NCP activists were taking part in it, it noted.

    It was a weird situation because the party’s leaders were with Modi on the stage and party workers were protesting against him with black flags, the Saamana editorial added.

    MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday said NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who shared stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Tilak National Award ceremony in Pune, could have stayed away from the event “to clear doubts about him.

    The editorial in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ claimed that Modi accused the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) of corruption and then engineered a split in the party and muddied the politics in Maharashtra.

    “Still, Sharad Pawar will welcome Modi and this has not gone down well with some people. This was a good opportunity for Pawar to turn his back on the programme and clear the doubts about him among people,” the Marathi daily said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Later in the day, former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan said such incidents lead to confusion and Pawar should make his position clear.

    “I don’t think participating in such events is wrong. (But) All important opposition parties have come under the banner of INDIA alliance. Such incidents create an atmosphere of confusion,” the Congress leader said.

    “If a senior leader like Pawar makes his position clear then it will be much better,” Chavan said.

    PM Modi was on a visit to Pune on Tuesday to launch various development projects and also receive the Lokmanya Tilak National Award, instituted by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust in 1983 to honour the legacy of Lokmanya Tilak.

    Notably, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar last month led a split in the NCP and joined the Shinde government along with eight other party MLAs.

    The Saamana editorial said if Sharad Pawar would have stayed away from the event to protest against the engineering of the split in the NCP, his leadership and courage would have been appreciated.

    The country is fighting against dictatorship and the INDIA alliance comprising 26 opposition parties has been formed for the purpose, it said.

    Sharad Pawar is the “leading general” of the alliance, it claimed.

    There are different expectations of people from a senior leader like Sharad Pawar, the Marathi publication said.

    “PM Modi is not ready to speak on the violence in Manipur. It is not in national interest for the country’s leader to not speak on the issue,” the editorial said.

    There are protests against the prime minister in Pune and NCP activists were taking part in it, it noted.

    It was a weird situation because the party’s leaders were with Modi on the stage and party workers were protesting against him with black flags, the Saamana editorial added.

  • Maharashtra power games: ‘I am still effective, whether I am 82 or 92’, says Sharad Pawar

    By ANI

    MUMBAI (Maharashtra): Amid a tussle in the Nationalist Congress Party between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, the former held a meeting on Thursday which Ajit Pawar called “illegal” and said that no one had the authority to call such meetings.

    The meeting was attended by leaders including Supriya Sule, Jitendra Awhad, AK Shashidharan, Mohd Faizal, Fauzia Khan, PC Chacko, KK Sharma, K Thomas, Pithambaran Master and others, which focused on several national issues, including recent political developments in Maharashtra, said Mahesh Tapase, Chief Spokesperson of the NCP.

    Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar asserted that his effectiveness remains unchanged regardless of whether he is 82 or 92 years old.

    “I am still effective, whether I am 82 or 92,” said Sharad Pawar after the party’s national executive meeting in Delhi in response to recent remarks about his age made by his nephew Ajit Pawar.

    Ajit Pawar’s comment stirred discontent among party members and loyalists, triggering a series of reactions.

    Ajit Pawar had indirectly blamed Sharad Pawar, who is 82 years old, for the NCP’s missed opportunity to have a Chief Minister in Maharashtra despite having the support of a majority of MLAs in 2014.

    Sharad Pawar asserted that he is still the president of the NCP.

    “Today’s meeting helped boost our morale. I am president of the NCP,” he said as he presided over a crucial national executive meeting in New Delhi.

    Sharad Pawar said, “Now, whatever we need to say, we will say it before the Election Commission of India.”

    The working committee of NCP headed by Sharad Pawar has approved his decision of “expelling Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare and nine MLAs who have joined hands with the NDA.”

    The working committee of the Nationalist Congress Party passed eight resolutions in the meeting.

    Sharad Pawar, who addressed a crucial party meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday, convened a working committee meeting in the national capital.

    The working committee approved the decision taken by National President Sharad Pawar to expel Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and 9 MLAs from Maharashtra for anti-party activities. They have been absolved of all responsibilities associated with the NCP, announced PC Chacko.

    “The working committee also expressed concern regarding communal tension in Manipur and criticised the BJP for misusing central agencies against the opposition. The committee condemned the Modi government’s failure in handling price rise, unemployment and women’s safety,” the release stated.

    After the meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived at Sharad Pawar’s residence in Delhi.

    Notably, Congress and NCP were alliance partners in Maharashtra with Udhav Thackeray Shiv Sena faction, before Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Sunday.

    Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar appointed Narendra Rane as Mumbai’s Working President of the party.

    Pawar handed over the appointment letter to Rane and also congratulated him.

    However, the Ajit Pawar faction has claimed that the meeting of the national executive, national working committee, national office bearers, and state party presidents of NCP called by Sharad Pawar in New Delhi on Thursday has no legal sanctity.

    Ajit Pawar faction claimed that the dispute of representing real NCP is within the jurisdiction of the ECI and no one has any authority to call any meeting till the dispute is settled by the ECI.

    “The dispute on the question of who represents the real NCP is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the ECI and therefore no person within the party has any authority to call for any meeting of the National Executive/National Working Committee/ National Office Bearers / State Party Presidents till such time the dispute is finally decided by the ECI,” said a press note released by the Ajit Pawar faction.

    “The meeting of the National Executive, National Working Committee, National Office Bearers or State Party Presidents of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on July 6 has no legal sanctity whatsoever,” the statement said.

    “Further, any of the decisions which may be taken in the so-called National Executive, National Working Committee, National Office Bearers or State Party Presidents shall have no valid legal basis and shall not be binding on anyone in the Party,” the statement said further.

    The statement added that Ajit Pawar has been elected as the National President of NCP on June 30 with the overwhelming support of the majority of elected representatives of NCP as well as the members working on different organizational posts.

    “Ajit Pawar has also filed a petition before the Hon’ble Election Commission of India (ECI), stating that he represents the real NCP and therefore, the name of the party along with the symbol be granted to him,” the statement further said.

    Moreover, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reacted to Ajit Pawar joining hands with BJP in the state and said that he has expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Shinde also said that Maharashtra Government has “become even stronger with the joining of Ajit Pawar.”

    Speaking on the development of the state under the double-engine govt, Shinde said that Ajit Pawar too has accepted that there is development in the state and shared thoughts on having a double-engine govt in the state.

    Maharashtra CM spoke on the ideology of the party and said that “Our government’s role is to take Balaji Saheb ideology and Hindutva ideology forward and with that, have joined those ideologies with the development of the state.”

    Reacting to the split in NCP, former Maharashtra CM and senior Congress leader, Prithviraj Chavan said that this shows bitterness that was setting in for years, adding that the “split is real”.

    “Maybe there were a few faults in Pawar Saheb’s management of the party. Maybe he sidelined people to push forward his daughter, but this family dispute is affecting the state’s politics. So, I said that the split is real and there is bitterness,” he said.

    The NCP is facing a political crisis after Ajit Pawar joined the Shinde-BJP government. Eight other NCP MLAs also took the oath with him as ministers on Sunday. 

    MUMBAI (Maharashtra): Amid a tussle in the Nationalist Congress Party between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, the former held a meeting on Thursday which Ajit Pawar called “illegal” and said that no one had the authority to call such meetings.

    The meeting was attended by leaders including Supriya Sule, Jitendra Awhad, AK Shashidharan, Mohd Faizal, Fauzia Khan, PC Chacko, KK Sharma, K Thomas, Pithambaran Master and others, which focused on several national issues, including recent political developments in Maharashtra, said Mahesh Tapase, Chief Spokesperson of the NCP.

    Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar asserted that his effectiveness remains unchanged regardless of whether he is 82 or 92 years old.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “I am still effective, whether I am 82 or 92,” said Sharad Pawar after the party’s national executive meeting in Delhi in response to recent remarks about his age made by his nephew Ajit Pawar.

    Ajit Pawar’s comment stirred discontent among party members and loyalists, triggering a series of reactions.

    Ajit Pawar had indirectly blamed Sharad Pawar, who is 82 years old, for the NCP’s missed opportunity to have a Chief Minister in Maharashtra despite having the support of a majority of MLAs in 2014.

    Sharad Pawar asserted that he is still the president of the NCP.

    “Today’s meeting helped boost our morale. I am president of the NCP,” he said as he presided over a crucial national executive meeting in New Delhi.

    Sharad Pawar said, “Now, whatever we need to say, we will say it before the Election Commission of India.”

    The working committee of NCP headed by Sharad Pawar has approved his decision of “expelling Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare and nine MLAs who have joined hands with the NDA.”

    The working committee of the Nationalist Congress Party passed eight resolutions in the meeting.

    Sharad Pawar, who addressed a crucial party meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday, convened a working committee meeting in the national capital.

    The working committee approved the decision taken by National President Sharad Pawar to expel Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and 9 MLAs from Maharashtra for anti-party activities. They have been absolved of all responsibilities associated with the NCP, announced PC Chacko.

    “The working committee also expressed concern regarding communal tension in Manipur and criticised the BJP for misusing central agencies against the opposition. The committee condemned the Modi government’s failure in handling price rise, unemployment and women’s safety,” the release stated.

    After the meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived at Sharad Pawar’s residence in Delhi.

    Notably, Congress and NCP were alliance partners in Maharashtra with Udhav Thackeray Shiv Sena faction, before Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Sunday.

    Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar appointed Narendra Rane as Mumbai’s Working President of the party.

    Pawar handed over the appointment letter to Rane and also congratulated him.

    However, the Ajit Pawar faction has claimed that the meeting of the national executive, national working committee, national office bearers, and state party presidents of NCP called by Sharad Pawar in New Delhi on Thursday has no legal sanctity.

    Ajit Pawar faction claimed that the dispute of representing real NCP is within the jurisdiction of the ECI and no one has any authority to call any meeting till the dispute is settled by the ECI.

    “The dispute on the question of who represents the real NCP is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the ECI and therefore no person within the party has any authority to call for any meeting of the National Executive/National Working Committee/ National Office Bearers / State Party Presidents till such time the dispute is finally decided by the ECI,” said a press note released by the Ajit Pawar faction.

    “The meeting of the National Executive, National Working Committee, National Office Bearers or State Party Presidents of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on July 6 has no legal sanctity whatsoever,” the statement said.

    “Further, any of the decisions which may be taken in the so-called National Executive, National Working Committee, National Office Bearers or State Party Presidents shall have no valid legal basis and shall not be binding on anyone in the Party,” the statement said further.

    The statement added that Ajit Pawar has been elected as the National President of NCP on June 30 with the overwhelming support of the majority of elected representatives of NCP as well as the members working on different organizational posts.

    “Ajit Pawar has also filed a petition before the Hon’ble Election Commission of India (ECI), stating that he represents the real NCP and therefore, the name of the party along with the symbol be granted to him,” the statement further said.

    Moreover, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reacted to Ajit Pawar joining hands with BJP in the state and said that he has expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Shinde also said that Maharashtra Government has “become even stronger with the joining of Ajit Pawar.”

    Speaking on the development of the state under the double-engine govt, Shinde said that Ajit Pawar too has accepted that there is development in the state and shared thoughts on having a double-engine govt in the state.

    Maharashtra CM spoke on the ideology of the party and said that “Our government’s role is to take Balaji Saheb ideology and Hindutva ideology forward and with that, have joined those ideologies with the development of the state.”

    Reacting to the split in NCP, former Maharashtra CM and senior Congress leader, Prithviraj Chavan said that this shows bitterness that was setting in for years, adding that the “split is real”.

    “Maybe there were a few faults in Pawar Saheb’s management of the party. Maybe he sidelined people to push forward his daughter, but this family dispute is affecting the state’s politics. So, I said that the split is real and there is bitterness,” he said.

    The NCP is facing a political crisis after Ajit Pawar joined the Shinde-BJP government. Eight other NCP MLAs also took the oath with him as ministers on Sunday. 

  • Rival NCP factions wrestle for party name and symbol

    By Online Desk

    CHENNAI: The rival factions of the NCP are putting their heads together in a bid to wrest the party name and symbol.

    The Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which palpably has the upper hand, has approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) staking claim to the party name and symbol.

    Ajit claims he has the backing of 40 MLAs, MPs and MLCs. According to NDTV, the MLAs loyal to the Ajit Pawar faction are holed up in a hotel in Mumbai.

    It may be recalled that the Ajit Pawar faction, which joined the BJP-Shiv Sena Maharashtra government last week, held a meeting in Mumbai’s Bandra on Wednesday in a bid to prove their strength. As many as 32 of the 53 NCP legislators attended the meeting. 

    The meeting removed NCP chief Sharad Pawar from the top post of the party he founded and led for over two decades.

    Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar has called for a meeting in New Delhi, which will also be attended by NCP working president and MP Supriya Sule.

    Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Thursday dubbed the political developments in Maharashtra as a “tamasha”, and said the law seems to allow it.

    CHENNAI: The rival factions of the NCP are putting their heads together in a bid to wrest the party name and symbol.

    The Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which palpably has the upper hand, has approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) staking claim to the party name and symbol.

    Ajit claims he has the backing of 40 MLAs, MPs and MLCs. According to NDTV, the MLAs loyal to the Ajit Pawar faction are holed up in a hotel in Mumbai.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    It may be recalled that the Ajit Pawar faction, which joined the BJP-Shiv Sena Maharashtra government last week, held a meeting in Mumbai’s Bandra on Wednesday in a bid to prove their strength. As many as 32 of the 53 NCP legislators attended the meeting. 

    The meeting removed NCP chief Sharad Pawar from the top post of the party he founded and led for over two decades.

    Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar has called for a meeting in New Delhi, which will also be attended by NCP working president and MP Supriya Sule.

    Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Thursday dubbed the political developments in Maharashtra as a “tamasha”, and said the law seems to allow it.

  • Ajit Pawar blames uncle for insulting him, denying Maharashtra top post

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra NCP coup is complete and comprehensive. Sworn in Deputy Chief Minister just the other day, Ajit Pawar on Wednesday hit out at Sharad Pawar, saying his uncle wants to remain the party chief because he wants his daughter Supriya Sule to be the CM. He also said he was “insulted” several times in the past on the question of siding with either Shiv Sena or BJP. The new entrant to the Shinde-Fadnavis team opened up at the Bhujbal Knowledge City at Bandra West on Wednesday.

    “I have been deputy CM. We could have got the chief minister’s post, but my uncle refused it,” he said.“I am fed up with the DCM post. My son asks: ‘Papa how many times will you will be DCM?’” said Ajit.He said Sharad Pawar, 83, should gracefully retire from active politics and hand over the command to his nephew. Out of 53 NCP MLAs, 31 MLAs attended the meeting called by Ajit Pawar at Bandra.

    On the other hand, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said since the day he attended the Opposition meeting in Patna, he suspected that the BJP would split his family and the party. “I will again go to the people,” he said.

    The Sr Pawar’s speech was a veritable counter to Ajit Pawar’s allegations. On why he did not tie up with BJP and formed the government with Shiv Sena, Pawar said Shiv Sena’s Hindutva “is inclusive and takes all castes and communities together.  “It is not like BJP’s ‘myopic Hindutva’ dividing the people on the lines of caste and religion,” he said.

    But Ajit Pawar was unrelenting. “We were in talks with the BJP in 2014, 2016 and 2019. I was sent to talk with BJP; we finalized the distributions of cabinet portfolios. But his uncle changed his mind at the last moment. Due to this, I was humiliated and seen as a villain,” said Ajit.

    “If we can share power with Shiv Sena, then why not with the BJP?” asked Ajit. On his part, Sharad Pawar said the Ajit faction has criticized him but has retained Sr Pawar’s posters and banners.“They know they have no worth in the political market and will not fetch the votes. Therefore, they want to use my photograph. But people are shrewd enough to understand these things,” said senior Pawar.

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra NCP coup is complete and comprehensive. Sworn in Deputy Chief Minister just the other day, Ajit Pawar on Wednesday hit out at Sharad Pawar, saying his uncle wants to remain the party chief because he wants his daughter Supriya Sule to be the CM. He also said he was “insulted” several times in the past on the question of siding with either Shiv Sena or BJP. The new entrant to the Shinde-Fadnavis team opened up at the Bhujbal Knowledge City at Bandra West on Wednesday.

    “I have been deputy CM. We could have got the chief minister’s post, but my uncle refused it,” he said.
    “I am fed up with the DCM post. My son asks: ‘Papa how many times will you will be DCM?’” said Ajit.
    He said Sharad Pawar, 83, should gracefully retire from active politics and hand over the command to his nephew. Out of 53 NCP MLAs, 31 MLAs attended the meeting called by Ajit Pawar at Bandra.

    On the other hand, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said since the day he attended the Opposition meeting in Patna, he suspected that the BJP would split his family and the party. “I will again go to the people,” he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Sr Pawar’s speech was a veritable counter to Ajit Pawar’s allegations. On why he did not tie up with BJP and formed the government with Shiv Sena, Pawar said Shiv Sena’s Hindutva “is inclusive and takes all castes and communities together.  “It is not like BJP’s ‘myopic Hindutva’ dividing the people on the lines of caste and religion,” he said.

    But Ajit Pawar was unrelenting. “We were in talks with the BJP in 2014, 2016 and 2019. I was sent to talk with BJP; we finalized the distributions of cabinet portfolios. But his uncle changed his mind at the last moment. Due to this, I was humiliated and seen as a villain,” said Ajit.

    “If we can share power with Shiv Sena, then why not with the BJP?” asked Ajit. On his part, Sharad Pawar said the Ajit faction has criticized him but has retained Sr Pawar’s posters and banners.“They know they have no worth in the political market and will not fetch the votes. Therefore, they want to use my photograph. But people are shrewd enough to understand these things,” said senior Pawar.