In a recent turn of events, the Congress Party and Shiv Sena (UBT) have criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what they deem as predatory politics after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar joined the government as the deputy chief minister. Nana Patole, the state unit president of Congress, accused the BJP of resorting to their tactic of dismantling opposition parties, while Sanjay Raut, the leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), predicted that this new government would not last.
Patole expressed his disapproval, stating, The BJP has once again embarked on its deviant political pattern of dividing other parties. It is a shameful day for democracy. What is ironic is that (Eknath) Shinde and his group, who left the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance after raising concerns about Ajit Pawar, now have to work with him. Patole pointed out that Shinde had left the alliance claiming that joining hands with the NCP and Congress went against the principles of Hindutva ideology.
Even Praful Patel, a prominent figure in the NCP and a staunch critic of Patole, stood by Ajit Pawar in this surprising move on Sunday. Patole commented, But now it seems that ideology has been forgotten. Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accused the NCP of being involved in scams worth Rs70,000 crore, and yet they are seeking the support of the same party.
Raut, voicing his opinion, stated, The people of Maharashtra are watching. For now, let them (Ajit Dada faction) have their way.
Vijay Wadettiwar, a Congress leader, questioned the authenticity of Sunday’s swearing-in ceremony, suggesting that the MLAs might have been coerced into participating. Wadettiwar suspected the involvement of central agencies in orchestrating this drama and believed it to be a temporary measure to sustain the government.
Dharmarao Baba Atram, an NCP leader and MLA from Gadchiroli, also took an oath as minister during the ceremony, but was unavailable for comment. However, Anil Deshmukh, a former cabinet minister and MLA from Katol, declared his support for Sharad Pawar.
Confusion also loomed among NCP members in Nagpur. Dhuneshwar Pethe, the city chief of NCP, stated, I am currently in Haridwar and will return to Nagpur tomorrow. We will hold a party meeting on Tuesday to assess the situation. Until then, it would be inappropriate to make any comments.
Abhijit Wanjarri, a Congress leader and MLC, viewed this event as a turning point for the Congress party in Maharashtra. He emphasized that the public now recognizes that the Congress party can be relied upon for stable governance. Wanjarri added, Today’s incident was politically unethical, but it is a blessing in disguise for us, as the truth is now revealed to the public regarding who can be trusted. In Karnataka, people voted for Congress due to our strong governance and all-inclusive approach.
It is evident that the political landscape in Maharashtra is experiencing turmoil with Pawar’s surprising inclusion in the government. As different parties voice their concerns and skepticism, only time will tell how this controversial move will shape the future of the state and its governance.
