Ajit and Sharad Pawar battle on Twitter, defection threat looms over Shiv Sena and Congress
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Politics

Ajit and Sharad Pawar battle on Twitter, defection threat looms over Shiv Sena and Congress

Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar bats for BJP-NCP govt, but Sharad Pawar categorically denies it. Other leaders criss-cross Mumbai to keep their flocks together.

Haima Deshpande    
NCP chief Sharad Pawar and his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar | Photos: Commons

NCP chief Sharad Pawar and his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar | Photos: Commons

Mumbai: Sunday was a day of hectic political parleys in Mumbai as all roads led to three destinations — Hotel Renaissance in Powai, Sharad Pawar’s residence Silver Oak, and Ajit Pawar’s residence in the southern part of the city.

With the Supreme Court demanding to see the letters of support that Devendra Fadnavis submitted to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and the latter’s invitation to the BJP leader to form the government, leaders of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress were criss-crossing the city to bring and keep their flocks together.

In a series of tweets Sunday evening, Ajit Pawar thanked BJP leaders for their congratulory messages, reiterated his commitment to the NCP and Sharad Pawar, but batted for a BJP-NCP government. The senior Pawar later categorically ruled out a tie-up with the BJP and hit out at his nephew.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was the busiest man, shuffling between Hotel Renaissance, where the NCP has kept its MLAs and where the leaders of the three parties were meeting, and Hotel Lalit, where Shiv Sena MLAs have been put up since Saturday.

Congress MLAs, meanwhile, are huddled up at Hotel JW Marriott in Juhu. Security has been strengthened at all three luxury hotels, with both the Sena and Congress fearing large-scale defections.

Also read: What will SC rule on Maharashtra govt formation? These past cases may hold the key

Nephew and uncle in Twitter battle

The man of the moment, Ajit Pawar, whose support to the BJP led to the present frenzy, remained at his south Mumbai residence, meeting NCP leaders who tried to bring him back into the fold. Senior NCP legislators Jayant Patil and Dilip Walse Patil, both of whom share a close rapport with Ajit, tried to talk him out of support of the BJP.

Shortly after the leaders left from his residence, Ajit put out 11 tweets in 10 minutes to BJP leaders who had sent him congratulatory tweets — including PM Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari etc. In his tweet to the PM, Ajit said: “Thank you Hon Prime Minister Narendra Modiji. We will ensure a stable government that will work hard for the welfare of the people of Maharashtra.”

However, at 5:10 pm, Ajit tweeted: “I am in the NCP and shall always be in the NCP and @PawarSpeaks Saheb is our leader. Our BJP-NCP alliance shall provide a stable government in Maharashtra for the next five years which will work sincerely for the welfare of the state and the people.”

He also changed his Twitter bio from “former Deputy Chief Minister” to “Deputy Chief Minister”.

The tweets have led to confusion amongst the legislators, sources said.

However, about an hour later, Sharad Pawar categorically denied that there would be a BJP-NCP tie-up.

“There is no question of forming an alliance with @BJP4Maharashtra. NCP has unanimously decided to ally with @ShivSena & @INCMaharashtra to form the government. Shri Ajit Pawar’s statement is false and misleading in order to create confusion and false perception among the people,” the senior leader said.

Though the NCP, which claims to have the support of 51 of its 54 MLAs, refused to read much into the tweets, sources said it was a clear indication that there’s no coming back for Ajit Pawar.

Meanwhile, the NCP chief and Thackeray held separate meetings with Dhananjay Munde, NCP legislator and nephew of the late BJP leader Gopinath Munde. There is talk that Munde supports Ajit and is keen on supporting a BJP government, and not one headed by the Shiv Sena.

All not well in Shiv Sena camp

Though Thackeray has been visiting his legislators at Hotel Lalit and assuring them of Sena-NCP-Congress government, all doesn’t seem well in the Shiv Sena camp either.

Sources said at least 24 of the 56 MLAs of the party, led by a very strong regional leader from a neighbouring district, are keen on going with the BJP. “The Shiv Sena faces the biggest threat of defection. These MLAs want power at all cost,” said a source.

Thackeray, in his pep talk to his legislators, cautioned them to stay safe and not stray around without company. He also asked them to check the identity of those who approach them, and to not interact with strangers, even if they claim to be Shiv Sainiks.

Congress in the same boat

The Congress, too, is witnessing trouble, as sources said at the 30-35 of its 45 MLAs were willing to go with any party that would give them power.

“We are ready to support the Shiv Sena and their Hindutva, so why not the BJP?” questioned a Congress leader from Mumbai.

“Maharashtra is a bankrupt state. The BJP is in power at the Centre. Do you think that the central government will help a Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra? Look at what is happening in West Bengal and Kerala,” said the leader.

Also read: BJP’s overnight coup didn’t happen overnight at all, and Sharad Pawar likely knew about it