NCP tells Fadnavis to clarify stand after BJP men wave black flags at Ajit Pawar convoy

Junnar BJP chief: Ajit behaving like rival party leader; NCP demands Fadnavis to clarify stand.

3 min readUpdated: Aug 19, 2024 08:02 AM IST

A government meeting was organised on tourism development in Junnar on Sunday. (Photo: X/ @AjitPawarSpeaks)

A group of BJP workers led by party’s Junnar chief Asha Buchake waved black flags at Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s convoy as his Jan Sanman Yatra reached there Sunday.

Reacting to the incident, the Nationalist Congress Party demanded Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to clarify as to whether he approved of the behaviour of his BJP workers.

Asha Buchake claimed that the NCP is trying to promote its candidate in the Junnar seat for the upcoming Assembly polls.

“They are trying to strangle us… Therefore we have adopted an aggressive stand,” she told reporters even as the BJP protesters raised slogans against Ajit Pawar.

A government meeting was organised on tourism development in Junnar on Sunday. “However, the BJP was not even invited for the meeting. If we are part of Mahayuti, then why are pictures of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis not put up in the meeting hall?” she said.

The Junnar Assembly constituency is represented by NCP MLA Atul Benke. The BJP camp has alleged that Pawar is trying to promote Benke. “The NCP is trying to promote another ‘Pappu’ in the form of Atul Benke in Junnar,” she said.

Buchake also criticised Pawar’s conduct as the district guardian minister. “He is behaving like a rival party leader, ignoring the NCP’s alliance partner,” she said. After leading the protest, Buchake was admitted to a local hospital due to high blood pressure.

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Buchake was earlier with the Shiv Sena and has unsuccessfully contested Assembly elections twice. A former zilla parishad member, she now eyes an Assembly poll ticket for Junnar.

Meanwhile, NCP spokesperson Amol Mitkari said, “Jan Sanman Yatra is an independent event of our party. Those who are showing black flags should hold a separate event… We are seeking clarification from Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about this behaviour of his party workers.”
State NCP spokesperson Sunil Tatkare said, “If anyone is trying to tarnish the image of Mahayuti, then they should be warned.”

“Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis themselves hold meetings with officials in several districts. At that time, other constituents of Mahayuti do not object. Then, why are BJP workers and leaders protesting in Junnar ? Why should they object ? I don’t want to reply to what Asha Buchake said. I am going to speak to BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule,” he said adding that Mahayuti is intact.

NCP state women’s chief Rupali Chakankar said,”Instead of showing black flags, if Asha Buchake had met Ajit Pawar and spoken to him, he would have heard her out. By showing black flags, she was tyring to indulge in a political stunt.”

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MLA Rohit Pawar of the NCP(SP) said, “This is the policy of BJP. They force popular leader to join hands with them and then try to weaken him.”
The NCP and BJP relations have gone for a toss in Maval and Indapur Assembly seats. At both places, where NCP has MLAs, BJP workers are railing against them and want to field their own candidate.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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