Total collapse of law and order, BJP is misusing power: Sharad Pawar

“All of us are part of INDIA. We are in it, which means you also are a part of it. We all are together in this. We will snatch the power from those who are misusing it and hand it over to the common people,” said Pawar.

The move to choose Jadhav as Mumbai unit president comes two weeks after Ajit Pawar-affiliated NCP chose former Lok Sabha MP Sameer Bhujbal as its Mumbai unit chief.

Taking a dig at Bhujbal, Pawar said, “The difference between two appointments is that our president has never gone to prison.” Bhujbal and his uncle and present minister Chhagan Bhujbal have spent more than two years in the jail under money laundering charges.

Following the rebellion by Ajit Pawar on July 2, the Ajit group has staked claim on the party name and the symbol.

At present, the case is being heard at the Election Commission of India (ECI). Commenting on the ongoing tussle between two groups, Pawar said, “We are fighting at two places — the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India. Our old colleagues have brought this situation upon us. I am sure that the decision will be in your (audience’s) favour.”

Earlier, NCP state president Jayant Patil said that the court’s restrictions on present Mumbai chief of the party and MLA Nawab Malik led to the party deciding on new name.

Commenting on Ajit group’s state president Sunil Tatkare who had earlier claimed that Sharad Pawar had held talks with the BJP in the past, NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad said that holding talks and joining hands are two different things. “Pawar always maintains that communication should continue. He held discussions only because you kept on requesting him to join hands with the BJP. He did that, but never joined hands,” said Awhad.