Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar visited his uncle and the head of the Nationalist Congress Party, Sharad Pawar, a day earlier to seek his blessing. He once again visited the party chief along with several loyal NCP MLAs on Sunday.
A close aide of senior Pawar Praful Patel, who rebelled along with his nephew to join the BJP-Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra, said numerous NCP cabinet ministers were absent during the surprise visit because it was Sunday.
“They met Sharad Pawar today after the Assembly session, and he patiently listened to us,” he claimed.
The rebel camp claimed that during their meeting with Sharad Pawar yesterday, they had asked the senior leader to prevent party division.
However, “Sharad Pawar remained tight-lipped on this matter; he just listened to us, and after meeting him, we left the scene,” NCP’s Praful Patel said.
As per the reports, the NCP supremo made it clear later in the day that his ‘progressive politics’ will continue and he will never ally with the BJP.
The 82-year-old leader has been considered a leading player in uniting and bringing various political parties on one platform against the ruling BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
A split in the NCP took place earlier this month when Ajit Pawar left the Opposition ranks and took oath as the Deputy CM of Maharashtra.
Incidentally, Ajit Pawar has more support from NCP MLAs than Sharad Pawar, who also visited his house last month to meet his aunt Pratibha Pawar, who recently underwent surgery.