New Delhi [India]: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and National Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar on Thursday said that the NCP’s vision is to bring development in the state,” asserting that the Chief Minister of the state will be of Mahayuti.
In an exclusive interview with media, Ajit Pawar said that despite being allies with Congress in 1999, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) fought the local bodies polls independently.
“This always happens. In 1999, the Rashtrawadi Congress Party was formed, on 10 June 1999 in Shivaji Park. In October we formed a coalition with Congress. We ran the government for 15 years but in local bodies elections we used to fight elections against each other. That time also during Assembly polls, and Lok Sabha elections we used to contest elections together,” Ajit Pawar said.
He further asserted that he doesn’t have to look back on whatever happened in the past as he is looking forward.
“Pawar sahab was the leader. But during the local bodies elections, we used to ask the district president of Bombay and MLAs to decide whether we should do a coalition with the other parties or not. In a few districts, Congress and the Rashtrawadi Party used to fight elections together. We don’t have to see what happened in the past. I am looking forward. Through your medium, I want to tell you that we will and always respect our Constitution. Jo mahool banaya tha iss vajh se SC and ST log humse dur hogai the,” he added.
Ajit Pawar further said that until the Maharashtra Elections take place in the state he will only talk and discuss about the development.
“When I met the people during the ‘Jan Samman Yatra’, then and there I decided that I would only talk and discuss development until the Assembly elections take place in Maharashtra. Mujhe development krna bhut acha lagta hai. In the Maharashtra budget, we have brought many good yojanas. There are around 7 schemes. Before presenting the budget I discussed and took suggestions from various people including farmers, young people etc,” Pawar said.
When asked about the infrastructure of Maharashtra during the rainy season, the NCP chief said that the main cause of the problem the people are yet not aware of it.
“Pune is a very old city, it is from the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Whether it is the Mahayuti Government, Maha Vikas Aghadi or Shiv Sena-BJP government, everyone tried their best to improve the conditions but the situation of the city is little unique. Our government is trying our best,” he said.
Responding to the political career of Supriya Sule and comparing her style of politics with Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar said that the political style of everyone is different.
“Nehruji working style was different, Indira ji style was different, Rajiv ji was different and Rahul ji’s style is different. There is always a generation gap. Abhi ki generation ki soch alag hai, purane vale alag sochte hai. Pawar Sahab always tries to adjust with everyone,” he said.
When asked whether he was upset about getting the MoS position in the cabinet, he said, “No, it is not like that.”
“Jab aap ek mai hissa ban jaate hai toh nakhush, khush kuch nhi hota. Sabko mil kar kaam krna hota hai. Our figure was also less. Anupriya Patel is very senior to us, we have just come into alliance with them,” he said.
On the Maharashtra Assembly polls, Ajit Pawar asserted that “we will try our best to form the government in Maharashtra with good seats. We are getting good response from our sisters.”
When asked who will be the Chief Minister if the alliance wins the state elections, the NCP chief said that “the Chief Minister will be of Mahayuti. It will be decided after the results. Right now our focus is on how we will get higher numbers of seats in the elections.”
Earlier on July 21, the National Congress Party Chief announced that his party would fight the local body elections in the state independently.
“Despite having contested Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha together as Mahayuti, every party will contest local body election as per their strengths. Therefore, party workers in Mahanagar Palika, Nagar Palika, Zila Parishad, and taluka Panchayat shall start their work and try to spread government schemes among people,” Pawar said.
The Nationalist Congress Party split last year when Ajit Pawar led some MLAs joined the ruling Eknath Shinde Sena-led BJP government.
In the Lok Sabha elections, the NCP bagged only one of the four seats it contested, whereas the NCP-SP won eight of the ten seats it contested.
The Mahayuti alliance — Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and the NCP — collectively bagged 17 seats in Maharashtra with BJP securing nine seats and the Shiv Sena seven.