In Pune, closed-door meet between Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil before Sharad Pawar arrives sparks speculation

According to NCP sources, Ajit Pawar arrived for the meeting at around 8 am after he accepted memorandums from citizens. Jayant Patil also arrived at the institute at the same time and the duo then met.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar arrived at 9.40 am to attend and preside over the governing council meeting. Leaders Dilip Walse Patil and Harshvardhan Patil also attended the meeting.

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut criticised the closed-door meeting. “We parted ways with Eknath Shinde but we never meet his MLAs or hold closed-door meetings. They (NCP (SP) leaders) keep meeting each other…,” Raut said.

In recent days, speculation has been rife that Jayant Patil might switch loyalties to the NCP led by Ajit Pawar. However, Patil has denied any such possibility.

Earlier this month, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat had emphatically said that Jayant Patil was heading towards the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. “He is not likely to stay in the NCP led by Sharad Pawar. He is not in a mood to stay there…He will be joining Ajit Pawar’s party,” Shirsat had said. Even Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar had said that “something was on his (Patil’s) mind”.

According to NCP (SP) sources, Jayant Patil has been at loggerheads with Sharad Pawar’s grand-nephew Rohit, who allegedly wants to take over the reins of the party.