NCP crisis: Chhagan Bhujbal & Praful Patel to Sharad Pawar: ‘Bless us, accept our decision’

Speaking at the meeting that was attended by a large number of party workers, Bhujbal said that Sharad Pawar is Lord Vitthal for them but he is surrounded by a coterie. Bhujbal appealed to Sharad Pawar to remove his coterie and that only then all of them will return to him.

“Pawar saheb is our Lord Vitthal. But he is surrounded by a coterie. I appeal to him to remove the coterie and give us blessings. We are all willing to return. Just remove that coterie. You allowed it (joining hands with BJP) in Nagaland. Allow us as well (to join hands with BJP In Maharashtra),” Bhujbal said.

Bhujbal, once known as a fierce loyalist of Sharad Pawar, also said that if the NCP can ally with Shiv Sena then there is no issue in allying with the BJP too. “If we can join hands with Shiv Sena then why not with BJP? But remember we haven’t joined BJP,” he said.

Bhujbal asserted that joining the government was not a sudden move and that discussions were going on for the past several months. He said that in 2017 too there was an attempt to join hands with BJP.

“Everyone knows here. I was in fact in jail at that time. But there was an attempt to join hands with BJP in 2017 too and later too. Why did Ajit Pawar take oath as deputy CM in 2019? Why did that happen suddenly? With whom and what discussion had taken place? These all should be revealed now. Every time a discussion would take place in Delhi, later the party backtracked and we had to be embarrassed always,” Bhujbal said, indicating the earlier talks of alliance between NCP and BJP.

Reiterating what Bhujbal said, Patel said,”Earlier too there was discussion with Pawar Saheb (on joining hands with BJP). It is not that it has suddenly taken place. The discussion has been going on for many days. Dada hasn’t taken this decision for himself but it’s for the party and the public representatives and cadre,” Patel said.

“We came to power on the day of Gurupurnima by supporting the Shinde-Fadnavis government and made your nephew (Ajit Pawar) Dy CM. This is our ‘Gurudakshina’ towards him,” Bhujbal said.

Bhujbal also said that majority of the MLAs are with them. “Many say there will be action against us. But we have taken this step after due deliberation. We also know the law. We have studied everything, even the Supreme Court verdict on Shiv Sena. It is not like we woke up one morning and joined the government. We have considered all the aspects and then only have taken this decision,” he said.

Complaining about the functioning of NCP (undivided) and targeting the functioning of Jayant Patil, Bhujbal said, “Appointments of office-bearers were not taking place in the party for months even after several requests. Appointments were not being made despite Sharad Pawar’s request. It was important that the party has representation from all the communities but it was not happening,”

On the Sharad Pawar camp filing a ‘caveat’ before the Election Commission of India, requesting it not to take any decision on a plea from Ajit Pawar faction before hearing the former’s side, Bhujbal said they are ready for this legal fight as well. “Let them go before the ECI,” he said.