NCP factions to embark on state-wide tours next week

NCP MLA and Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew Rohit Pawar, who has taken an aggressive stand against the rebel NCP leaders and the state government on Friday announced his programme starting from Tuljapur in Osmanabad district of Marathwada. For next three days from August 13, Rohit will travel to Latur, Beed and Aurangabad. The tour is planned with a tagline that says, ‘me gheun yetoy sahebancha sandesh’ (I am coming with a message from Saheb).

“He will visit Marathwada, meet various groups and individuals, address press conferences to prepare the ground for the upcoming tour of Pawar saheb,” a leader from the Sharad Pawar group said.

Post-split in the NCP, Pawar had announced that he will tour the entire state and rebuild the party. He had even started the tour and held his first public rally at Yeola in Nasik district, the constituency of senior NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal who has joined hands with Ajit Pawar. The tour, however, was curtailed due to heavy rains in north Maharashtra.

On Friday, the Ajit Pawar group held its meeting to plan strengthening of the party organisation across the state. Ajit group’s state unit chief and Lok Sabha MP from Raigad Sunil Tatkare said the party has decided that the leaders will travel in all 48 Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra.

“We discussed about the party policies as well as strengthening the organisation across the state. A core committee meeting of the NCP will be called next week where a time-bound programme to expand the party will be prepared,” said Tatkare.

“Party leaders will be touring the state in each of the Lok Sabha constituency. In addition, leaders will also be travelling district-wise to look after the party organisation,” he said.

Tatkare also added that party’s nine ministers will now be holding ‘janta darbar’ in party office from next week.