Sharad Pawar Slams Ajit's NCP of Breaking Party 'Solely For Power', Terms It 'Inappropriate'

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday accused NCP leaders, including state minister Dilip Walse Patil, of breaking the party solely for the sake of power, calling the decision "inappropriate."

Pawar was addressing party workers and supporters of Devdatta Nikam, the NCP (SP) candidate in Ambegaon, who is running against incumbent MLA Walse Patil, a long-time representative of the Pune district constituency.

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The seasoned political leader noted that the NCP had contested the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections in unity, winning 54 seats.

He stated that they formed the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, with two representatives from their district-one from Ambegaon and another from Baramati, referring to Walse Patil and Ajit Pawar.

Pawar added that they strengthened representation for the Indapur tehsil in Pune by appointing Dattatray Bharne from the party to a ministerial position.

He asserted that the party was responsible for empowering these leaders and credited the success to the hard work of NCP workers.

"The party came to power due to that success, which allowed them to become ministers. But some of our colleagues forgot this. Some of our colleagues took 44 of the 54 MLAs and joined the other side, creating a false image in the state," said Pawar.

He was referring to the bitter split in the NCP in 2023 when Ajit Pawar and his loyal MLAs allied with the BJP and Shiv Sena, joining the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Ajit Pawar subsequently secured the party name and its clock symbol from the Election Commission.

"They acquired the power they sought. It's not as though they hadn't had power previously, but to break the party for power was simply not appropriate," said Pawar.

Criticising MLA Walse Patil, Pawar added that the representative of Ambegaon tehsil also participated in the decision to split the party in pursuit of power.

"Ambegaon tehsil and its people were not involved in that decision. But, unfortunately, Ambegaon's representative became part of it. People were taken aback as they had never expected this," said Pawar.

The octogenarian politician said since he was occupied with work at the national level, he had given major responsibilities to some of the state leaders whom he trusted, but they took advantage of it.

Recalling his association with Walse Patil's father Dattatray Walse Patil, Pawar said the latter had requested him to take the minister, who was then studying in Mumbai, under his wing.

"I encouraged him by taking him along. He was taken into the party, given an opportunity in the state assembly, and was made a minister. Besides that, he was given an opportunity to be a part of some institutions headed by me," Pawar said.

"Despite that, these people took a different stand. I do not want to talk about that," he said. Pawar asked NCP (SP) workers and Nikam's supporters who had come to Baramati from Ambegaon to rally behind him in the upcoming assembly elections and ensure his victory.

(With PTI inputs)