MUMBAI: NCP president Ajit Pawar on Monday unexpectedly showered praise on his mentor and political rival Sharad Pawar at the foundation day celebrations of the party, saying the senior Pawar had played a crucial role in building it up.
“Sharad Pawar set up NCP 25 years ago over the nationality of Congress’s Sonia Gandhi. I am thankful to him for leading the party and providing powerful leadership to the organisation,’’ Ajit said.
Ajit’s statement lauding Pawar Sr is the first such since he dissociated himself from his uncle in June 2023 and comes days after the Lok Sabha poll results in which Sharad Pawar’s NCP won eight of the 10 seats it contested.Ajit’s party had contested four seats and won just one.
Ajit explained to party workers why NCP did not accept a minister of state post with independent charge in the new NDA govt. “Our contention that Praful Patel was a cabinet member in UPA govt for a prolonged period was not accepted. We informed the BJP leadership; we will wait for some time and will continue with NDA. Before Aug15, our strength in Rajya Sabha will increase from one to three,” he said.
The BJP leadership had told Ajit that the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena with a strength of seven members in LS too was offered a minister of state post with independent charge and it accepted the proposal.
Ajit made it clear that while NCP has joined hands with Sena and BJP, there is no change in the ideology of the party. “Our ideology remains the same, we follow the path shown by Shahu (Maharaj), Mahatma Phule and Dr Ambedkar,’’ he said.
On claims that the NDA govt will change the Constitution, Ajit said the opposition succeeded in creating a false narrative. “It was false propaganda… it appears that we were not able to counter it,” he said.