Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar made significant remarks on Wednesday regarding the potential merger of the two NCP factions, clarifying the nature of discussions and challenging Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' involvement in the matter.
Pawar Questions Fadnavis' Authority
During a press conference held in Baramati, Sharad Pawar explicitly stated that discussions concerning a possible merger of the Nationalist Congress Party factions were conducted exclusively between Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil. He emphasized that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was not involved in these talks and questioned his right to comment on the issue.
"Merger discussions were held between Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil. CM Fadnavis was not involved in the talks. What right did he have to talk about it?" Pawar asserted during his media interaction.
Context of Political Developments
The political landscape in Maharashtra has witnessed significant changes following the tragic demise of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. The 66-year-old leader passed away on January 28 when the aircraft carrying him crashed during an attempted landing at Baramati airport in Pune district.
In the aftermath of this unfortunate incident, Sunetra Pawar, a senior NCP leader and widow of Ajit Pawar, was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister to fill the vacant position. Sharad Pawar expressed his satisfaction with this development, stating, "I am happy that Sunetra Pawar is sworn in as Deputy CM."
Fadnavis' Previous Comments
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier addressed reporters on Monday, raising questions about the nature of merger discussions. He questioned whether Ajit Pawar would have conducted such talks without consulting the Bharatiya Janata Party, given their alliance in the government.
"If Ajit Pawar was holding discussions on the merger, would he have done so without taking BJP into confidence? Second, supposing he was holding such discussions, was he doing it to get out of NDA when he was stable in the government," Fadnavis had remarked.
The Chief Minister further emphasized his close relationship with Ajit Pawar, noting, "You all know that the relationship between Ajitdada and me was such that he shared everything with me. Even a day before his unfortunate death, we both sat together chit chatting for an hour."
Current Political Focus
Sharad Pawar clarified that the NCP's current priorities lie elsewhere, stating, "At present, our entire focus is on taking care of everyone and moving forward together with those who are grieving. As of now, there is no discussion at all about any political decisions."
This statement indicates that while merger discussions had occurred previously, the party is currently focused on addressing the emotional and practical consequences of recent events rather than pursuing immediate political realignments.
Parliamentary Absence
In a personal revelation, Sharad Pawar also spoke about missing Parliament on Budget Day for the first time in his extensive political career. The veteran politician, who has served as a member of legislative bodies for 58 years, expressed his regret about this unprecedented absence.
"Whether it is the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly or the Lok Sabha of the country, I have been a member for the past 58 years. In all these 58 years, I have never been absent from Parliament on Budget Day. Unfortunately, due to an incident in my family, I could not be present in Parliament on the day of the Budget this time," he explained.
This admission highlights the personal impact of recent events on one of India's most experienced political figures, whose parliamentary attendance record had remained unbroken for nearly six decades until this year's budget session.
