Maharashtra Polls: Ajit Pawar Backs PM's 'Ek Hai Toh Safe Hai' Slogan, Dismisses Yogi's 'Batenge Toh Katenge'
Ajit Pawar also claimed that his nephew and rival candidate Yugendra Pawar is not interested in politics and doesn't like coming to Baramati.
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek hai to safe hai' slogan, but opposed Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath's 'Batenge toh katenge' slogan, terming it "inappropriate" and alien to Maharashtra's ideological heritage.
Supporting PM Modi's campaign slogan, he said India will be safe if it remained united."There is nothing wrong with that (PM Modi's slogan), I don't see any issue here. If we stay together, everyone will prosper," the Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar told news agency PTI.
However, he expressed disapproval about Yogi Adityanath's slogan. "The remark `batenge to katenge' is inappropriate. People's thinking in UP, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh is different, but such statements don't work here. Using such words holds no significance in Maharashtra, in my opinion".
"Maharashtra is the state of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Shivaji Maharaj. People of Maharashtra are different, and they think differently. If anyone leaves the ideology of Shahu, Shivaji, Phule and Ambedkar, then Maharashtra will not spare them," Ajit Pawar added.
Ajit Pawar On Baramati Battle, Nephew Yugendra
Ajit Pawar also spoke about his nephew Yugendra Pawar, who has been pitted against him in the November 20 state assembly elections from Baramati. Ajit Pawar claimed that his rival candidate Yugendra Pawar is not interested in politics, and does not even like to stay in Baramati.
He also revealed that his mother had urged Sharad Pawar to avoid a contest within the family. "I made (wife) Sunetra Pawar contest against Supriya Sule in the Lok Sabha elections. This has badly hurt (Sharad Pawar), that is why they made Yugendra Pawar contest against me," the NCP chief said.
"Yugendra has no interest in politics.....he does not like to come to Baramati. He likes to stay abroad," Ajit Pawar said, adding "I don't know what happened to him."
"My mother told Pawar saheb there should not be a contest within the Pawar family, but they fielded a candidate. Sharad Pawar is a big leader. I don't want to speak about it. But despite messages from my mother, he took such a decision," the NCP chief added.
In the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, Ajit Pawar's cousin Supriya Sule defeated his wife Sunetra Pawar in Baramati.
Expressing confidence about winning the Baramati assembly seat, Ajit Pawar said: "People there know that several people were involved in the development of Baramati, but I have put in the most efforts, and Baramati knows that. I have worked there, and my work speaks for itself."
On whether the NCP will return to the Opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi in case of a fractured mandate, Pawar ruled out the possibility, saying, "No, I am not thinking of it now, because my aim is to win 175 seats for Mahayuti (ruling alliance of the NCP, BJP, and Shiv Sena)."
He further stated that the 'Ladki Bahin Yojana' for women will benefit all the Mahayuti partners in the elections and also acknowledged that the Maratha factor will also play a crucial role, recognising Manoj Jarange's influence on the Maratha reservation movement.
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