PUNE: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo and federal Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s nephew sensational disclosure made on Wednesday that the Shiv Sena – BJP alliance offered him the Maharashtra chief minister’s post if he helped them to form the government sent ripples in the political circles in the state.
The recent rift between the uncle and nephew came into the open after Pawar denied the post of deputy chief minister to his nephew Ajit and ruled in favor of his close confidante Chhagan Bhujbal, who would be in the post for third time.
There were contradictory statements from Pawar and Ajit. While Ajit confirmed that the Sena-BJP leaders had offered him the Chief Minister post, Pawar rubbished the claim of Ajit, who is a Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation in the outgoing government.
Commenting on the offer of the saffron alliance Ajit said “I was not in touch with the Sena-BJP leaders. But on the contrary it were them who were in touch with me for over four or five hours today. Since they knew that I had the support of 40 NCP and 15 Independent legislators, they suggested that I join them to form the government and in return they offered me the chief minister’s post,” he said.
Asked to name the Sena-BJP leaders who made the offer, Ajit said “I don’t want to disclose the names of any of the leaders of the saffron alliance, as it would create an embarrassing situation for them.
Reacting to the statement of nephew Ajit, Pawar said “I am not aware whether or not Ajit received the ‘offer’ from Sena-BJP. But he has not met any saffron alliance leaders and hence the report is completely baseless. He clarified that the speculation of the Sena-BJP alliance and NCP or of Ajit and the Sena-BJP coming together is totally stupid.
After the disclosure made by Ajit, the political situation in the state witnessed a turmoil. Some NCP leaders told Arab News that senior Sena leaders Subhash Desai, Suresh Jain, Manohar Joshi and BJP leader Vinod Tawde had met Ajit and made the offer of chief minister’s post to him.
BJP national general secretary Gopinath Munde also outright dismissed the offer to Ajit. “We have held no talks with anyone relating to the formation or government in Maharashtra.” Sena leader Joshi might be speaking of ‘ifs and buts’, but I will not speak like that of Joshi. At the time when the political situation arises and demand to take a decision on such matters, then the saffron alliance leaders will take appropriate decision. However, give and take situation occurs in politics, its nothing new. And in politics no one is untouchable,” Munde added.
The state BJP president Nitin Gadkari reacting to the statement of Ajit denied that the saffron alliance had made any offer to him. Gadkari ruled out the possibility of the saffron alliance joining hands with the NCP to form government. “We do not wish to speak on this issue. Because we don’t know who met Ajit. Therefore this issue from out point of view is not worth discussion,” Gadkari added.
Senior Sena leader and former Sena chief minister added another twist to the drama when he said that the Sean would think of supporting the NCP provided it is willing to break off alliance with the Congress. “We would also have no objection if Ajit leave the NCP with his supporters,” Joshi added.
Meanwhile Sanjay Raut, Sena Member of Parliament and Executive Editor of party mouthpiece Saamna is reported to have met NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday. This leads to speculation in the Sena camp whether there were some shrewd moves by Pawar. The NCP has made it known that it would settle for no less than 50-50 ministerial berth formula, and if this is not acceptable to the Congress, then it would stay out of the government and lend outside support.
