Pawar snubs Bhujbal, blasts rebels

The crisis brewing in the NCP is likely to deepen as party chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday publicly snubbed a sulking Chhagan Bhujbal saying that he ‘‘did not care’’ about the dissidence in his party.

‘‘I am not worried about the noise being made by some people,’’ he said while referring to dissidents at a conclave organised by NCP’s Mumbai unit at Shanmukhananda Hall on Sunday. ‘‘I remember those who stood by me in the time of crisis, but wish good luck if anyone is leaving the party,’’ Pawar said amid applause from party workers who had gathered at the auditorium in large numbers. During his 20-minute address, Pawar made it amply clear that he would not budge before the dissidents, mainly former deputy chief minister Bhujbal who is unhappy at being sidelined in the party.

His warning came hours after NCP leaders like MLA Sachin Ahir made a futile attempt to convince Bhujbal to attend today’s rally and share the dais with Pawar to send out a positive signal.