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Journalism of Courage
After taking on his nephew Ajit Pawar, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday launched a tirade against his former colleague and close associate Dilip Walse-Patil in Ambegaon Assembly constituency over parting ways from him for the sake of power.
“Forty-four out of 54 legislators left me to join the rival camp to be in power. This created a wrong picture in the state. We have been in power several times but it was wrong to break the party for acquiring power,” said Pawar Sr as he addressed party workers in Ambegaon, where the NCP (SP) has fielded Devdatta Nikam.
“Unfortunately, the legislator from Ambegaon too joined those who split the party to be in power in the state,” he said, adding, “He (Walse-Patil) joined the rivals to be in power but the public who voted him didn’t accept it. They were shocked as they never expected this to happen.”
“It was my close relationship with Dattatraya Walse-Patil that, on his request, I involved his son in my office, party and made him legislator, Cabinet minister,” Pawar said. “I also appointed him in some big organisations while showing trust in him, yet he took a decision to part ways. People will not like his decision and they still cannot believe he can do this. Now, I think it is for the party cadre to take steps for a change,” he added.
Nikam successfully runs a sugar cooperative factory and has established a network in the constituency, he said, expressing confidence that the NCP (SP) candidate will win in the coming polls.
