Sharad my leader, BJP-NCP will provide stable govt: Ajit

His statement ‘false and misleading’, says NCP supremo

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 24

As the sun sets on yet another politically confounding day in Maharashtra, the only thing clear is that the prevailing battle of nerves between the BJP and the NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena will not just decide the shape of the state government but also who is the real ‘Chanakya’ in Indian politics — BJP chief Amit Shah or NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.

Maharashtra’s newly anointed Deputy Chief Minister and BJP’s new ally Ajit Pawar, in his tweets, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 20 BJP leaders and assured a stable government that will work hard for the welfare of the people of the state: “I am in the NCP and shall always be in the NCP and Sharad Pawar Saheb is our leader. Our BJP-NCP alliance shall provide a stable government in Maharashtra for the next five years which will work sincerely for the welfare of the state and its people,” he tweeted.

Terming his statement “false and misleading”, uncle Sharad Pawar retorted, tweeting: “There is no question of forming an alliance with @BJP4Maharashtra. NCP has unanimously decided to ally with @ShivSena and @INCMaharashtra to form the government. Shri Ajit Pawar’s statement is false and misleading in order to create confusion and false perception among the people”.

The BJP is banking on legal loopholes to ensure a safe passage to the Devendra Fadnavis government in the Assembly. The party is of the view that Ajit Pawar, when he reached the Raj Bhavan on Saturday morning to take the oath of secrecy with Fadnavis, was the leader of the legislative party of the NCP. The BJP believes Ajit Pawar can still issue a whip to NCP MLAs though he has been sacked and replaced with Jayant Patil. Ajit Pawar was removed as the NCP’s legislature unit leader hours after he took oath as the deputy CM.

Sena leader Sanjay Raut has claimed the Sena-NCP-Congress combine has the support of 165 MLAs. BJP leaders also claim sufficient numbers to see Fadnavis through. As life comes a full circle on Sharad Pawar, who he led a coup to become the state’s youngest CM four decades ago, the question is whether Maharashtra “wiliest” politician will have his way pitched against the BJP’s finest.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Supreme Court, which has fixed a hearing on Monday.