Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar attended the annual general body meeting of the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) on Thursday, marking his first appearance at the event ever since the NCP split in 2023. However, he chose to sit one seat away from NCP (SP) chief and VSI chairperson Sharad Pawar.
Ajit Pawar, a member of the Pune-based sugar industry research institute, was initially scheduled to sit beside Sharad Pawar but moved his nameplate to allow state cooperation minister Babasaheb Patil to sit between them.
"Babasaheb wanted to speak to Pawar saheb. I can speak to him (Sharad Pawar) anytime. Even if I sat one chair away, my voice is loud enough for someone further away to hear," the deputy CM explained over the seat rearrangement, as reported by news agency PTI.
Closed-Door Meeting
Sharad Pawar also held a closed-door meeting with leaders, including NCP MLA Dilip Walse Patil. Addressing his absence from VSI’s annual meetings over the past two years, Ajit Pawar cited work commitments and jokingly remarked that he had been "busy thinking about how to get the maximum number of my members elected."
He noted that the closed-door meeting centered on issues of the sugar industry and representatives from agriculture, excise, cooperation, and energy departments, all are closely linked with this sector.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar welcomed the meeting, remarking, "the two captains coming together for a discussion must be welcomed."
When asked about the nature of the meeting, Maharashtra BJP chief and state minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said he was unsure if it had a political agenda. "If it was political, then Ajit dada had to discuss it among the Mahayuti. If it was personal, then it was purely a family affair," Bawankule said, PTI reported.
During his speech, Ajit Pawar proposed increasing the prize money for two awards from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The suggestion was accepted, and Sharad Pawar announced the decision during his address. Despite being unwell, Sharad Pawar, a former Union agriculture minister, delivered an 18-minute speech, during which he was seen coughing.