Sharad Pawar Was Ready To Join Hands With BJP Several Times, Nephew Ajit Opens All Cards

Ajit stated that in 2014, it was decided among the senior leaders from both the parties to form the government, however, later the government was formed with BJP and Shiv Sena's alliance.

Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar.

Source : Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar \ Facebook

In an exclusive interview with ABP News, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has claimed that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder and his uncle Sharad Pawar was willing to form government in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014, 2017, and 2019. Ajit stated that in 2014, it was decided among the senior leaders from both the parties to form the government, however, later the government was formed with BJP and Shiv Sena's alliance. "It was our senior's decision, so we stayed silent," he told ABP News. 

Asserting that BJP was not ready to leave Thackeray in 2017, Ajit stated that "Sharad Pawar had a meeting with senior BJP leaders in Delhi in 2017, and BJP-NCP alliance was proposed to form the next government in the state. It was decided to not include Shiv Sena in the alliance. However, saffron party was not willing to let go of Shiv Sena back then."

Shedding light on what happenned in 2019, Ajit stated that "in 2019, it was again decided that NCP and BJP should form the government. However, the decision was changed later, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi was formed and came to power." 

When asked about how he feels about his wife Sunetra Pawar contesting against Supriya Sule for the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, Maharashtra Deputy CM stated that "nothing is emotional, when it comes to work." He further stated: "It is not the first time, in 1961 during the by-elections, such incident had happened. A campaign was run against our elder uncle by one of the younger uncles."

On wheather Sharad Pawar will be joining hands with BJP in future, Ajit highlighted that in politics no one remains an enemy or friend forever, and stated that "some of his supporters feel that they should come with us." 

(With Inputs From Vaibhav Parab)