Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and chief Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut claimed here on Saturday that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will pull out of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance government and join the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Speaking to media persons at a press conference here on Saturday, Raut said, “I believe Sharad Pawar will come to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) along with Ajit Pawar”.
Raut claimed that Ajit Pawar is with the ruling Mahayuti alliance, but at the same time, he has also kept ties with the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. Because of this, action will be taken against him by the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
When asked if the deputy chief minister would have to leave the Mahayuti-led government, the Shiv Sena leader replied, “He will have to leave. You cannot stand on two stones at the same time. You cannot sail in two boats at a time. At some point, you have to choose one side. I am certain that in the coming days, Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar will be seen together in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)”.
Incidentally, both the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the rival NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had contested the recently-concluded municipal elections in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) as alliance partners, which is what sparked off speculation about Ajit Pawar’s future moves.
When asked what would happen to the files of the irrigation scam files that allegedly incriminate Ajit Pawar, Raut said, “They (the BJP) already gave a clean chit to Ajit Pawar, didn’t they? Is there anything in that file or is it just empty scaremongering?”
“They had made a lot of allegations against Chhagan Bhujbal as well. He remained in jail for two and a half years, just like I was also in jail for a while, but Bhujbal has been acquitted in all cases. He is innocent. The Union Home Ministry and the ED should atone for it,” Raut said.
As things stand, neither Sharad Pawar nor his nephew Ajit have responded to Raut’s claims so far, though it has sparked off political speculation.