New Delhi (Agency): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar recently stated that nobody is a permanent friend or foe in politics. He made the comments at a rally in Beed, a town nearly 390 km away from Mumbai.
Ajit Pawar expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s influence will benefit Maharashtra, which he described as a state following “secular thoughts.” He thanked local leaders from the Shiv Sena and BJP for welcoming him and other NCP ministers. “It is our expectation that PM Modi’s charisma would benefit Maharashtra and hence we all decided to join the [BJP-Shiv Sena] government for the benefit of the state. There is no self-interest behind our decision to join the government,” he said.
In a surprising turn of events, Ajit Pawar joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government last month and took the oath as the deputy chief minister. Eight other NCP Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) also joined the government and were sworn in as ministers.
Sharad Pawar, the chief of NCP and Ajit Pawar’s uncle, had previously stated that he was against joining forces with the BJP. However, in a conflicting statement, Sharad Pawar later claimed that Ajit Pawar still holds a leadership role in NCP, only to deny this statement within hours. He had also warned that the opportunity to “correct oneself is given once but shouldn’t be asked for again,” apparently referring to Ajit Pawar’s earlier alliance with the BJP after the 2019 assembly elections.
“I am a person who likes to work and like to speak through my work. I won’t respond to comments made against me by anyone,” Ajit Pawar said, addressing the rally in Beed.
This political development has added another layer of complexity to Maharashtra’s already intricate political landscape. Ajit Pawar’s decision to join the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance signals a possible shift in political dynamics, challenging the longstanding ideologies and alliances in the state. While many see this move as controversial, it underscores the fluid nature of political affiliations and the strategic decisions that leaders make for what they believe will benefit their constituents and the state.
