The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Mumbai): Amid the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) declining the offer of a Minister of State (Independent Charge) position for NCP leader Praful Patel, Rohit Pawar from the NCP’s Sharadchandra Pawar bloc stated that Ajit Pawar has lost his utility to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Rohit Pawar commented, “I think BJP wants to give them a message that they did not benefit from them (NCP) in the Lok Sabha. They thought that by favoring Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar’s power will be curtailed. But that has proved wrong. People have supported Sharad Pawar and given him strength. So Ajit Pawar has lost his utility to the BJP.”
Rohit Pawar warned that Ajit Pawar and his companions might have to fight future elections under the BJP’s symbol. He further added, “Those who side with the BJP get their powers reduced, and Ajit dada’s power has reduced as well. People have also shown them that.”
The Ajit Pawar-led NCP won only one seat in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. Criticizing Praful Patel, Rohit Pawar noted that Patel has reaped maximum benefit from both factions. “Praful Patel has benefitted the most in all this. His case under the ED has stopped. He had finished two years in Rajya Sabha and got it renewed for another six years. He is the smartest with Ajit dada. When he was with Sharad Pawar, he took the post of Minister; when he was defeated by people, he was given a Rajya Sabha ticket,” Rohit Pawar said.
Earlier in the day, Praful Patel stated that accepting the position of Minister of State (MoS) with independent charge in the Union Cabinet would be a demotion for him, as he was previously a Cabinet Minister in the UPA Government led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
“Last night we were informed that our party will get a Minister of State with independent charge. I was earlier a Cabinet Minister in the Union Government, so this will be a demotion for me. We have informed the BJP leadership, and they have already told us to just wait a few days, and they will take remedial measures,” Patel told reporters.
During the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Patel served as the Cabinet Minister for the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
