Mumbai (Maharashtra): Newly appointed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who rebelled against his uncle Sharad Pawar, on Wednesday said that he wanted to become Maharashtra Chief Minister to implement certain plans for the welfare of the people.
Addressing his supporters at the meeting of his faction at the Mumbai Educational Trust in suburban Bandra, Ajit Pawar said, "I want to become Maharashtra Chief Minister to implement certain plans I have for people's welfare," and also sought blessings of his deity Sharad Pawar.
He also took a dig at the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, saying leaders in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retire at 75.
"You portrayed me as a villain in front of everyone. I still have deep respect for him (Sharad Pawar). But you tell me, IAS officers retire at 60. Even in politics - BJP leaders retire at 75. You can see the example of LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, which allows the new generation to rise. You (Sharad Pawar) give us your blessings. The other day, he went to the Yashwantrao Chavan memorial, I have also been there, but you are 83, aren't you going to stop? Give us your blessings and we will pray that you live a long life,"
'Sacked' NCP working president Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, the sacked NCP general secretary, who backed Ajit Pawar, were present on the stage along with Ajit Pawar. Chhagan Bhujbal, who has also supported Ajit Pawar in his decision to join the government, started addressing the gathering. Bhujbal, who was sworn in as Maharashtra Minister, claimed the support of 40 legislators.
Ajit Pawar also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that the BJP came to power in 2014 at the Centre only due to the PM's charisma. He further said that NCP will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and Maharashtra Assembly elections along with Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and the BJP.
Without taking his name, Ajit Pawar attacked NCP Leader of Opposition Jitendra Awhad, saying that many leaders left the party due to him. "In NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), the person because of whom people left the party, has been elevated," Ajit Pawar said.
According to Ajit Pawar, he will tour across Maharashtra and tell people why he took the decision.
Also read: Rohit Pawar predicts Lok Sabha polls by December citing official instructions to keep EVMs ready
The leaders earlier unfurled the NCP flag at the meeting venue. "Everyone was surprised by his decision. 40 legislators are with us. We have worked within the law. We have done all the due diligence before taking the oath. We did not take the oath just like that," Bhujbal said while addressing their supporters. A huge number of supporters, who are backing Ajit Pawar, gathered at the venue.
"As we went with the (undivided) Shiv Sena, we have now allied with the BJP. We have not entered the BJP. Our ideology should remain intact," Bhujbal stressed. He also sought the blessings of Sharad Pawar for the Ajit Pawar faction.
"There is no need to worry," Bhujbal quipped. Also present on the occasion were Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, and Maharashtra Minister Dilip Walse Patil. NCP leader Rupali Chakankar also addressed the gathering. In a major political development, Ajit Pawar, nephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, orchestrated a coup, when he joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena BJP government in Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar, who has claimed the support of maximum NCP MLAs, was sworn in as the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister. NCP has 53 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.
Praful Patel said that he was supporting Ajit Pawar but would not reveal the reasons right now. "I will reveal the reasons at an appropriate time," Patel said. Patel, who attended the Opposition meeting in Patna conveyed by Bihar Chief Minister, ridiculed the meeting, saying a leader of a political party, which has no Member of Parliament, was present at the meeting. The supporters showed their support for Ajit Pawar by raising slogans.
Also read: NCP vs NCP: Emotional posters hailing 'lone warrior' come up outside Sharad Pawar's residence
