Maharashtra Polls: Did Ajit Pawar Demand CM Chair In Meeting With Amit Shah? NCP Chief Responds

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar denies demanding his appointment as Chief Minister during discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah which he said were centered on agricultural issues.

File Photo of Union Home Minister Amit Shah with NCP leader Praful Patel and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Source : X/@praful_patel

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday refuted media reports that claimed he had set forth demands during a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. According to these reports, Pawar, who is the National President of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), allegedly demanded the implementation of the Bihar model in Maharashtra and his appointment as Chief Minister after the upcoming Assembly elections.

Dismissing these claims, Ajit Pawar stated, "There is no truth in reports of a demand for the CM’s post or a friendly fight on 25 seats. During my meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, I discussed a whole range of issues including problems faced by the cotton, soybean, and onion growers", as quoted by news agency IANS.

Pawar further elaborated that he strongly appealed against the ban on onion exports, emphasising that farmers should benefit from higher market prices. He also urged the Centre to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP), stating, "Although the Centre has increased the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), there has been no rise so far in Minimum Support Price (MSP). I strongly urged him to increase the MSP."

Seat-Sharing Formula In Mahayuti Yet To Be Finalised: Ajit Pawar

When questioned about reports suggesting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is staking a claim on over 150 seats, Ajit Pawar responded, "The seat-sharing formula in the Mahayuti has not yet been finalised. After we fix it, we will let you know the details."

Ajit Pawar’s denial followed a marathon meeting held by Amit Shah with nine senior BJP leaders on Sunday night. During this meeting, the BJP leaders made a strong case for the party to contest at least 160 seats, continuing to play the role of the 'Big Brother', IANS reported. The leaders also suggested that seats should be allocated to Shiv Sena and the NCP based on their strengths and winnability.

Addressing another issue, the Deputy Chief Minister stated that the party had not yet decided on nominating candidates for the three seats from its quota as the Governor’s nominees to the Maharashtra Legislative Council. He dismissed media reports that mentioned former MP Anand Paranjape, State Women’s Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar, and party leader Siddharth Kamble as potential nominees, saying, "I learnt these names from media reports. No names have been finalised yet."

Pawar also addressed objections raised by Shiv Sena ministers during the last Cabinet meeting regarding the omission of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s name from the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Scheme, for which Deputy CM Pawar was credited. He clarified, "The Ladki Bahin scheme has been introduced by the Mahayuti government. Constituent parties in the Grand Alliance are trying to frame and promote these schemes in their own ways."

Regarding the possibility of a third front contesting the Assembly election in Maharashtra, Pawar remarked, "There is talk of a third front. The possibility of a fourth front cannot be ruled out as everyone wants to be an MLA. People of all ages want to become MLAs. Finally, the Constitution has given everyone the right to fight elections. The people are supreme."