Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar expressed his desire to become the Chief Minister of the state, stating that he feels it from the bottom of his heart. In a show of strength between the warring Pawar camps, Ajit Pawar took a jab at his 83-year-old uncle and asked when the Maratha strongman would retire from active politics. Ajit Pawar’s ambitions for the top position are likely to unsettle Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government recently completed its first year.
During a meeting convened by Ajit Pawar in Mumbai, he addressed the attendees and stated, I was sworn in as the Deputy CM five times. It is a record, but the vehicle stops there, it doesn’t proceed further. I feel from the bottom of my heart that I should become the Chief Minister. I have some things which I want to implement, and for that, becoming the Chief Minister is essential. The meeting was attended by 32 out of the 53 NCP MLAs.
On the other hand, NCP chief Sharad Pawar held a separate meeting where he criticized his nephew for joining the Shiv Sena-BJP government. He also took issue with the large photo of him on stage at the Ajit Pawar group’s meeting, suggesting that those using his image have nothing else to show.
The split in the 24-year-old party has led to both factions filing affidavits and staking claims with the Election Commission. The Ajit Pawar-led faction informed the EC that he was elected NCP chief through a resolution signed by an overwhelming majority of members. They also claimed that Praful Patel continues to be the NCP working president.
The ongoing feud within the NCP shows no signs of resolution as the two factions hold separate meetings to assert their respective strengths. While Ajit Pawar aspires to become the Chief Minister, Sharad Pawar criticizes his nephew’s decisions and alliances. The battle for control of the NCP continues, with both sides vying for support and recognition from party members and the Election Commission.
