Ajit Pawar to meet PM on July 18, says will raise farmers’ issues

Pawar reached Nashik on a Vande Bharat train on Saturday morning. He was accorded a warm welcome by party workers en route and in Nashik.

Pawar, who got the key Finance and Planning portfolio on Friday, said that he and other NCP ministers are happy with the portfolios and said that he will ensure that there will be no issues in allocating the funds to all the three parties — BJP, Sena and NCP MLAs.

He also expressed confidence that there will equitable progress and development in the state and the differences arising between the three parties will be resolved with time. “There will be no differences (between the three parties). We will take everyone along. In ‘Mahayuti’, we will work in tandem and efforts will be taken for the development of all,” he said.

Pawar also clarified that he had visited Silver Oak, the residence of Sharad Pawar, on Friday to meet Pratibha Pawar, wife of Sharad Pawar, as she has undergone surgery.

It was Pawar’s first visit to Sharad Pawar’s residence after he along with several NCP MLAs joined the Shinde-led government last month and the split in the NCP and met the NCP founder and cousin sister and MP Supriya Sule.

Speaking about the visit, Ajit Pawar said that politics and family are different things and family has a special significance. “We value family and tradition. Kaki (Pratibha Pawar) underwent surgery. I wanted to meet her in the afternoon only but the portfolio allocation was underway, so could not go. Hence I went in the evening. Pawar Saheb and Supriya were also there in the house. The family has special importance. Politics is there. But politics is different and family is different,” Pawar said, further adding that there was no discussion over the politics between them during his visit to Silver Oak.

On the NCP name and symbol, Pawar said, “We are in the government to solve people’s issues. No one’s legislature membership will be in problem. We will not hurt the faith of those who have supported us.”