Ajit Pawar: 'I am focused on Maharashtra Assembly Polls and development'

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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said, his focused on development and the upcoming assembly polls. Pawar's statement is said to be an attempt to sidestep questions related to an article in an RSS-linked publication that was critical of the BJP's alliance with the NCP.

When Ajit Pawar was asked about the article published in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated magazine 'Organiser' after the Lok Sabha poll results, the NCP president, said he does not want to speak on the issue. Pawar had joined the BJP- Shiv Sena alliance a year ago, reported PTI.

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Responding to the questions asked about the article, he told the reports in Pune, "A lot of leaders are expressing their views and opinions after the polls. In a democracy, it is their right to express their opinions and I do not want to react to them. I have focused myself on development, how we can provide additional help and complete more development works. My attempt will be on how we, as Mahayuti, can face the state assembly polls with new energy."

As per the reports from PTI, assembly polls in Maharashtra are due in October. The ruling Mahayuti consists of the Shiv Sena, the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

The article in the magazine is written by an RSS ideologue. He analysed the Lok Sabha poll results and called them a 'reality check' for "overconfident" BJP workers. It also had a reference to Maharashtra, where the BJP failed poorly as its seat tally came down to nine from 23 in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The article reads, "Maharashtra is a prime example of unnecessary politicking and avoidable manipulations. NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar joined BJP though BJP and split Shiv Sena had a comfortable majority. Sharad Pawar would have faded away in two-three years as NCP would have lost energy with infighting between cousins."

The writer further added, "Why was this ill-advised step taken? BJP supporters were hurt because they had fought against this Congress ideology for years and were persecuted. In a single stroke, BJP reduced its brand value. After years of struggle to become numero uno in Maharashtra, it became just another political party without any difference."

While Ajit Pawar, the NCP President, said he want to focus on development and upcoming Maharashtra polls, Sharad Pawar, on the other hand, urged his party workers to be ready for the Maharashtra Assembly elections too. Pawar, who is Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief, claimed that they will return to power in the state, according to reports from ANI.

Supriya Sule, who was also present at the event, said, "Pawar Saheb has spoken with Sonia Gandhi and Uddhav Thackeray and said we will give a strong fight in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha election."