No Information About Sunetra Pawar's Name for Deputy CM: Sharad Pawar
Sharad Pawar said that NCP Working President Praful Patel and MP Sunil Tatkare had taken the initiative to decide on the posts that fell vacant following Ajit Pawar’s death
Baramati: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief and Ajit Pawar’s uncle, Sharad Pawar, on Saturday said he has no information about NCP MP Sunetra Pawar’s name being considered for the post of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister.
Speaking to reporters in Baramati, Sharad Pawar said that NCP Working President Praful Patel and MP Sunil Tatkare had taken the initiative to decide on the posts that fell vacant following Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash.
“I have no information about it (Sunetra Pawar’s name for the Deputy CM post). Her party must have decided. What I saw in the newspaper today were some names like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare who have taken the initiative to make some decisions,” Sharad Pawar said.
Ajit Pawar, 66, died in a plane crash along with four others on Wednesday, after which his wife Sunetra Pawar has been speculated to take up the vacant Deputy Chief Minister’s post. Maharashtra Minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said the party has pitched Sunetra Pawar’s name and asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis if the swearing-in ceremony could take place today.
When asked about the haste in taking political decisions immediately after Ajit Pawar’s death, Sharad Pawar hinted that the decisions were being taken by leaders in the Mahayuti government in Mumbai.
“If there is a problem in the family, the family stands together. There are no issues in the family. All these discussions are not taking place here; they are happening in Mumbai. Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and other senior leaders are having these discussions. Whatever is being seen appears to be decisions taken by them. I will not comment on this,” he said.
Asked about an NCP meeting scheduled in Mumbai on Saturday, the NCP-SCP patriarch said, “It’s their internal party matter.”
Sharad Pawar also ruled out joining the NDA in the event of a merger between the two NCP factions. “This is all going on your side (media). There is nothing like it here,” he said.
Remembering Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar described him as a “capable and committed” leader.
“Ajit Pawar was a capable and committed leader who truly worked for the people. He would thoroughly understand public issues and always worked to ensure that people received justice. The people of Baramati have always stood by him, and he never fell short when it came to his work and responsibilities,” he said.
He added, “His passing away has deeply shocked all of us. The situation that has arisen after his demise calls upon us to move forward with strength. We must work to reduce the suffering of the people and continue the approach and values with which he served. I firmly believe that the new generation of his family will certainly carry forward his legacy and way of working.”
Earlier, Bhujbal said that party leaders had decided to propose Sunetra Pawar’s name as the legislative party leader and had met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Ajit Pawar passed away on Wednesday when a chartered plane carrying him crash-landed in Baramati. Among the deceased were his personal security officer, a flight attendant, and two pilots.