Reeling from MVA ‘misgivings’, Pawar set for Beed show of strength to kickstart state tour

The NCP supremo also dismissed the buzz that the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)’s constituents, the Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), were working on a “Plan B” to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls without taking his NCP faction on board. “There could be discussion on it, but this is not a reality. Sanjay Raut too has denied it today,” he said.

Addressing a press conference in Aurangabad, Pawar said, “The youth of this state is witnessing the happenings. Everywhere I am going, the people are coming to meet me and extending support. The youth of this state have decided to show with whom do they stand. You have seen it now and will see tomorrow in your neighbouring district.”

The 82-years old Maratha stalwart, who stares at the daunting task of rebuilding the NCP after Ajit raised a banner of revolt and joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to become the Deputy Chief Minister, said: “Those who have joined hands with the BJP are not ours. We have formed INDIA (the national-level Opposition alliance) because we want change in the regime.”

In the wake of the split in the NCP on July 2, when Ajit led his group to join the Eknath Shinde Sena-BJP government, Pawar had announced that he will tour the entire state to rebuild the party that he founded in 1999 after quitting the Congress.

Pawar even kicked off the tour and held his first public rally at Yeola in North Maharashtra’s Nashik district – the constituency of Chhagan Bhujbal, senior NCP Minister from the Ajit camp. The NCP chief’s tour however came to a halt subsequently, which was attributed to rains in the state.

Pawar’s Beed rally, called the “Swabhiman rally”, is taking place days after the former’s latest meeting with Ajit at businessman Atul Chordiya’s residence in Pune on August 12 set political circles abuzz with speculations. His MVA allies also criticised him for creating “misgivings” through such meetings, asking him to clear the air.

Pawar rejected the claim that his August 12 encounter with Ajit was a “secret meeting”. “The meeting in Pune was not secret. I opened my car window and accepted bouquet while exiting. How can it be a secret meeting?” he asked.

Beed’s local NCP MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar has decided to stand by the party founder, with the Pawar camp expected to display a show of strength at the Thursday rally.

Interestingly, Ajit is also scheduled to hold a rally at the same venue on August 27, which is being seen as his response to the NCP patriarch.

Asked about the Ajit group still using his photos, Pawar said his party was going to the court over the issue.

When asked about the fight over the party’s election symbol with the Ajit faction, Pawar said he was not bothered about symbol but it was “misuse of power”. “Rulers are using the power to endanger opponents when they realise that they are losing,” he said.