Ajit Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, insisted on Tuesday that there is “no truth” to rumors that he is about to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.
“I work for NCP… Nobody is going anywhere (and) no MLAs have signed anything. “These are all speculative claims,” Maharashtra’s ex-deputy chief minister told reporters. “I have not obtained any MLAs’ signatures.” All rumors must be put to rest.”
Ajit Pawar also chastised the media for publishing such reports, saying they had caused confusion in the NCP, which was in power in Maharashtra as the Maha Vikas Aghadi government until the BJP-backed rebellion led by Sena faction leader Eknath Shinde, who then became CM.
“I want to tell them (NCP workers) … ‘don’t worry, NCP was formed under leadership of Sharad Pawar, and there have been times when we have been in power or in opposition,” Ajit Pawar said.
Ajit Pawar’s categorical denial of (a contentious) switch to the BJP comes just hours after his uncle and NCP boss Sharad Pawar dismissed similar speculation and stated that no meeting of the party’s MLAs had been called.