Ajit Pawar's resignation accepted

No Pawar vs Pawar masala, says Sharad Pawar

Suspense is finally over the resignation submitted by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) from the post of deputy chief minister in the Prithviraj Chavan led government in Maharashtra for his alleged involvement in irregularities in the irrigation sector. Ajit's resignation has been accepted by the party. This was formally announced by the NCP supremo and Ajit's uncle and union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar. At the same time, Pawar has reiterated that resignations submitted by party's 19 ministers would not be accepted and announced that the Congress NCP government would continue to function normally.  Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has been formally conveyed by NCP to accept and forward Ajit's resignation to the state Governor K Sankaranarayanan. NCP reiterated that the post of deputy chief minister would  be kept vacant.

Further, Pawar insisted that the government needs to bring out white paper on irrigation at the earliest. The coverage of  mere 0.1 per cent area under irrigation by spending over Rs 70,000 crore in a decade claimed by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan led to strong rebutal from NCP especially from Ajit Pawar who argued that 12 per cent area came under irrigation and it had benefitted agriculture and the adjoining areas. Pawar mentioned that Ajit would rejoin the government honourably till that time he would continue to work for the party organization.

Pawar also stressed that those looking for "Pawar vs Pawar masala" would be disappointed. He categotrically denied any differences with Ajit. "Our family is united. There are no differences," he said. Pawar has also completely rejected party's move to pull out of the Congress led government in the state. Instead, he called upon the party ministers and leaders to reach out to the people explaning the works carried out in the irrigation sector and other developmental projects across the state.

Ajit, who was literally gheraoed by his supporters, told Business Standard "I was quite firm on my decision and there was no question of any reversal. I had informed my party president Sharad Pawar." He also ruled out reports with regard to his differences with his uncle and said Pawar senior was like God for him. "The news about widening gap between me and Pawar saab was table news and there was no truth in it."

However, Ajit left the state legislature when Pawar addressing the press conference. This gave enough room to believe that all is not weel between the nephew and the uncle.  The higher and technical education minister Rajesh Tope ruled out this theory and explained that Ajit had no intention to bypass Pawar but left quietly as the latter was addressing the press and media.

Earlier, Pawar closetted with union heavy industries minister Praful Patel, Ajit Pawar and party MP Supriya Sule to discuss the preset situation. Sources said the decision to accept Ajit's resignation was accepted in the same meeting. Thereafter, Pawar met senior party ministers and took their views. The sense was Ajit's resignation be accepted as it was his decision. Thereafter, Pawar addressed meeting of the party legislators and MPs and announced acceptance of Ajit's resignation.