NCP (SP) Maharashtra unit president Shashikant Shinde said on Saturday that Ajit Pawar was working to unite the two NCPs before his death on January 28 and that Sharad Pawar and other leaders had no knowledge of the decision to swear in Sunetra Pawar as the state’s deputy chief minister.
Pudhari Group Chairman and Chief Editor Padmashri Pratap Singh Yadav and other prominent members met NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar at his residence in Baramati after the death of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Saturday. (ANI Video Grab)Shinde said there have been talks and meetings on the reunification of the two NCPs.
“There have been talks and meetings about the merger of the two NCPs. But Ajitdada is no more. Some broad positions were discussed earlier. Now, we will discuss what needs to be done and then decide. How others will respond is their call,” Shinde was quoted as saying by PTI reporters.
Asked about the apparent haste in conducting the swearing-in ceremony of Sunetra Pawar, Shinde said answers should come from her family, senior party leaders or the chief minister and her colleagues.
62-year-old Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s first woman deputy chief minister was sworn in on Saturday.
“Ajit Pawar’s death is a big loss for Maharashtra. While the state is in mourning, we don’t know why this decision was taken. They have to explain it,” Shinde said, adding that he had no prior knowledge of Sharad Pawar’s swearing-in.
Sharad Pawar also claimed on Saturday that he had “no idea” about Sunetra Pawar’s swearing-in.
Demand for consolidationAccording to Shashikant Shinde, there were eight to 10 meetings in three months before Ajit Pawar’s January 17 meeting with Sharad Pawar.
More Read
“After the civic elections, it was decided to work on merging the two parties. This position was also conveyed to Sharad Pawar,” he said.
Refers to a video of the January 17 meeting Between Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar that has gone viral, Shinde said it was held at Pawar senior’s residence and not at (NCP-SP) leader Jayant Patil’s.
“Ajitdada said that he has discussed the matter with the state president and others and he has decided,” Shinde said.
While Ajit Pawar wanted the two NCP factions to merge but faced resistance from senior leaders in his party, Shinde said he had no information on the matter.
“After completing all the processes, we will try to bring the leaders of both sides together and discuss. Based on the decision they take, we will decide our next course of action,” he said.
January 17 video claimReferring to the viral video, Kiran Gujjar, a close aide and confidant of Ajit Pawar and Baramati Pawar family, confirmed that it was the January 17 meeting where the “merger” talks were being finalised.
More Read
The video shows senior Power sitting at the center while Ajit Pawar, NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil, Rajesh Tope, Shashikant Shinde, Harshvardhan Patil, Rohit Pawar and Lok Sabha MP Amal Kolhe are discussing.
“The meeting was held on January 17, and Ajit Dada told me about the outcome of the meeting on January 21,” said Gujar.
Sharad Pawar’s claim on February 12Sharad Pawar had earlier said that his late nephew Ajit Pawar The NCP had finalized on February 12 to announce a “merger” between the factions.
“All discussions were held at their level, but now it seems the process may hit a snag after the accident,” the NCP (SP) chief said.
