New Delhi: As Maharashtra’s Leader of Opposition and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar arrived at Raj Bhavan Sunday to be sworn in as a deputy chief minister, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that former chief minister and NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar has reiterated his party’s commitment to the Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA) alliance.
“I am strong. We have the support of the people. We will rebuild everything with Uddhav Thackeray,” Raut quoted Sharad Pawar as saying about Ajit’s switching of party loyalties.
महाराष्ट्राच्या राजकारणाचे साफ मातेरे करण्याचां विडा काही लोकांनी उचलला आहे.त्यांना त्यांच्या मार्गाने जाऊ द्या.
माझे आताच श्री.शरद पवार यांच्याशी बोलणे झाले.ते म्हणाले" मी खंबीर आहे.लोकांचा पाठिंबा आपल्याला आहे. उद्धव ठाकरें सह पुन्हा सर्व नव्याने उभे करू.". होय,जनता हे खेळ फार… pic.twitter.com/fsBbIZGoFE
— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) July 2, 2023
In a thinly veiled criticism of Ajit, who joined the government with eight NCP MLAs, Raut said that those who have “taken up the task of cleaning Maharashtra politics” are free to “have their way”. “People will not tolerate this game for long,” he added.
He further hit out at Ajit by alleging that the latter changed loyalties as he was about to be sent to jail by the Eknath Shinde government.
भाजपा ज्यांना तुरुंगात पाठवायला निघाले होते.
त्यांनाच मंत्री पदाची शपथ देत आहे.. https://t.co/L42b0t0Nyh
— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) July 2, 2023
Accosted by media as he left his Pune residence Sunday afternoon, Sharad Pawar refused to comment on the developments.
This is not the first time that the MVA has experienced an upheaval. Formed in 2019 as an alliance of the erstwhile Shiv Sena, the Congress and the NCP, the then MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray lost power when a Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde broke away to join ranks with Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP in the state.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
Also read: 3 days after sudden resignation & much drama, NCP chief Sharad Pawar back at party helm