MAHARASHTRA’s election turf, which sunk to a new low after a BJP leader targetted NCP (SP) national president Sharad Pawar, sunk further low as political leaders attacked each other.
On Wednesday, farmer leader Sadhabhau Khot, who had become an MLC in June 2022 as an independent backed by BJP, made disparaging remarks about Sharad Pawar’s face, which drew strong rebuke from Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, estranged nephew of the Maratha strongman.
Speaking at an election rally for BJP candidate Gopichand Padalkar at Jat assembly seat in Sangli district, Khot said, ”Arre Pawar saheb, tumchya chillya pillyanni, karkhane hanle, banka hanlya, soot girnya hanlya…Evdhe hanla tari suddha, bhashnat ata mahantay, mala Maharashtra badlaychay. Mala Maharashtra cha chehra badlaychay ? Kasla tula chehra badlaychay ? Kasla chehra ? Tula tujya chehra sarkha pahije ka ? (Arre Pawar saheb your associates milked banks, cotton mills, factories…But we will have to applaud Pawar…despite all this, in his speech, he says he wants to change Maharashtra, he wants to change the face of Maharashtra, what face you intend to change ? Which face ? Do you want it like your face?)”
It is to be noted that Sharad Pawar underwent a surgery on his mouth after being diagnosed with oral cancer in 2004.
Khot’s reaction drew instant rebuke from Ajit Pawar who in a tweet condemned the language used against Sharad Pawar. ”We will not tolerate such kind of a language against a senior leader like Sharad Pawar,” he said.
Speaking to reporters in Pune on Thursday morning, Ajit Pawar said, “This is not the culture here. From the time of Yashwantrao Chavan, Maharashtra has a had a tradition of cultured politics. The legacy of Chavan has been carried forward by other leaders such as Vasantrao Naik, Vasantdada Patil and Pawar saheb. When we target our rivals, we should observe some restrain.”
Talking about the disparaging remarks made by Khot, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “Whatever statement was made yesterday is highly condemnable. I condemned it strongly yesterday itself. I called him up and told him that none of us have liked his statement and that he should withdraw it. Targeting someone personally is not our way…And it should not have happened in case of Pawar saheb.”
Later on Thursday, Khot withdrew his remarks. ”I did not intent to target anyone’s face. What I said is the kind of language used in rural areas. My remarks were wrongly interpreted. If they have hurt anyone’s sentiments, I would like to withdraw them and express regret.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, ”We respect Sharad Pawar. He has been bestowed with Padma Bhushan by the central government. But two dogs of Devendra Fadnavis keep barking…Maharashtra feels ashamed of such leaders.”
Raut said Maharashtra has a rich tradition of cultured and sensible leaders. ”But Devendra Fadnavis has let loose such insensible and insensitive leaders who are not even sparing someone who is not in best of health,” he said.
Hitting back at Raut, Khot told ABP Majha, a Marathi news channel, ”If Sanjay Raut is calling me a dog, then he should know dogs are honest and protect their owners. But the MVA pig should remember, no matter how much soap we apply to it, it will still stray into the slush.”
State NCP (S-P) president Jayant Patil said, ”It seems like they (Mahayuti) are in possession of a dog squad…People of Maharashtra will give them a befitting reply.”
BJP spokesperson Ashish Shelar said,”If anyone says Sanjay Raut is the bulldog of Silver Oak (Sharad Pawar residence in Mumbai), will he be okay with that ?”
On Saturday, during his visit to Beed, Pawar had said that he will take up the educational responsbilities of the sarpanch's children. (File) 
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