Former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan on Ajit Pawar’s retirement comment

Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan. PTI file

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has said a split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is “real” after Ajit Pawar commented on his uncle Sharad Pawar’s age and called for his retirement.

Ajit Pawar suggested on Wednesday that his uncle Sharad Pawar should step down as NCP leader and make way for new generations, pointing out that even Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are retiring at the age of 75.

“There may have been some flaws in the management of the party by Pawar Saheb. Maybe he pushed people aside to get his daughter ahead, but this family conflict affects state policy. So, I said the split is real and there is bitterness,” Chavan said. ANI.

The former chief minister also claimed that the ongoing crisis in the NCP was triggered by a decision made in New Delhi.

“This policy that Ajit Pawar should be integrated, was decided in Delhi. We believe that in a few months, possibly before August 11-12, a decision will have to be made in Vidhan Sabha’s ongoing action against Eknath Shinde. Maybe he will be suspended because there is no way out,” he said.

“If the 16 deputies and CM leave, a new CM will be needed. They may hand the responsibility to Ajit Pawar. Perhaps the BJP high command has placed its trust in Ajit Pawar. There is uncertainty in Maharashtra, it is not good for the state,” Chavan added.

Meanwhile, a day after Maharashtra politics took new turns leading Eknath Shinde’s camp to worry about his future in government, the chief minister met with Sena lawmakers to allay their worries. .

Ajit Pawar’s entry into the Shiv Sena-BJP government sparked apprehensions within the Shinde camp, with many opposing the newly formed alliance and worrying about Pawar’s rise in the ranks.

Shinde, who chaired a meeting of MPs, MLC and Shiv Sena MPs on Wednesday, was briefed on the rapid developments in the NCP which culminated in the swearing in of Ajit Pawar as deputy CM along with eight other ministers on July 2nd. in a stunning turn of events.

With contributions from agencies