Narendra Modi gives the nod to share dais with Pawar at Baramati

“The KVK at Baramati is a leading resources and knowledge centre of agriculture technology for the upliftment of the farming community. Pawar has always pursued in the field of agriculture,”a close aide of Pawar disclosed.

Interestingly, Modi has also received an invitation from former union minister and senior NCP leader Praful Patel to attend a function in his home town Gondia in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra in February second week.

The senior BJP cabinet minister for parliamentary affairs Girish Bapat said, “ Prime minister himself has taken the initiative of development across the country. And therefore there is nothing wrong if he is attending a function which is for the larger welfare of the people.” Bapat also believed that development should be kept out of politics and not equated always. He indicated that he would also participate in the Modi-Pawar function at Baramati as the minister from Pune district. The BJP leaders cite the mantra of —Saab ka saath, saab ka vikas– when it comes to promoting development in state and centre.

Notwithstanding, the explanation from both NCP and BJP quarters the coming together of Modi and Pawar has set the debate within the state politics. And it was inevitable as leaders at NCP headquarters and BJP headquarters were seen discussing the same endlessly.

A senior cabinet minister (BJP) revealed to Indian Express, “ These should be perceived a gestures to build bridges. Modi and Pawar always shared excellent relations in the past and it could be a renewed attempt to mend the fences post polls which were fought bitterly.”

However, the larger question on political realignment at centre to state is being ruled out by NCP and BJP. A senior BJP functionary said, “ In centre BJP already has a simple majority of 282 seats of its own in the house of 545 seats in Lok Sabha. The half way mark is  272 seats. So, in terms of numbers BJP along with allies is way ahead 300 plus. So, it does not require the NCP’s help. In any case NCP has only four members in Lok Sabha.”

According to BJP leaders the issue of seeking support of NCP in state is also ruled out after Shiv Sena joined the government. The BJP 122 seats along with Shiv Sena’s 63 seats together make up for 185 seats.  The total strength in assembly is 288 seats. The half way mark is 144 seats.

The NCP leaders recalled, “Pawar always held good rapport across parties lines even when he was in UPA government at centre.” The NCP leaders recalled, “ When Modi was Gujarat chief minister and Pawar was union agriculture minister both shared excellent relations.” A former NCP minister on conditions of anonymity told Indian Express, “ Pawar as union minister always lend a lot of support for development of Gujarat in key sectors like agriculture or dairy development. Modi always got audience and help from Pawar.” And it was no secret that Modi and Congress leaders never got along well at that time.

However, during the 2014 Lok Sabha and assembly elections Modi who campaigned had exhorted people to get rid of Pawar’s monopoly in Baramati.