Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended Sunetra Pawar swearing-in as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, dismissing all the controversies surrounding it as “pointless”, here on Friday.
“I think whatever controversy is going on about this is pointless. This controversy is happening in a very wrong way. Everyone is trying to do their politics using this, but it is very wrong to do so. Ajit Pawar, who was a big leader of Maharashtra left us and after that everyone is trying to do politics, which is wrong. Such low-level politics should stop,” Fadnavis said.
He further said, “After Ajit Pawar passed away, the situation was precarious, but the courage with which Sunetra Pawar took a decision in the interest of Maharashtra is really commendable. I am confident she will carry forward Ajit Dada’s legacy with strength. The state of Maharashtra has got its first woman Deputy Chief Minister and her career will be a success. As far as the BJP and the Mahayuti government is concerned, we are supporting Ajit Dada Pawar’s family in this difficult situation,” Fadnavis said.
The chief minister was replying to a question posed to him by media persons, who asked him to react to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam’s statement earlier on Friday.
Criticising Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader Sunil Tatkare earlier on Friday, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam said, “Immediately after the untimely death of Ajit Pawar, (senior Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader) Sunil Tatkare played very dirty politics. Sunil Tatkare forced Sunetra Pawar to take oath as Deputy Chief Minister before Ajit Pawar’s funeral pyre got extinguished. What difference would it have made if he did it after 10 days? Look at how clever and shrewd this man is. He thought Sharad Pawar would take control. Sunil Tatkare is a traitor. Tatkare always betrayed those who raised him”.
After the media persons asked Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam if he believed Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader Sunil Tatkare had got the late Ajit Pawar killed, Kadam said, “Maybe it is true, because Tatkare can do anything. Sunil Tatkare can do anything. What Tatkare did is condemnable. Maharashtra will never forgive him”.