'Baahubali' Enters NCP Thriller, Poster Labels Ajit Pawar As 'Gaddar', 'Katappa'

Posters were put up by senior Pawar faction outside his Delhi’s residence drawing a parallel between Ajit Pawar's move to take control of the party and the epic betrayal in blockbuster movie Baahubali

Ahead of the national executive meeting of the Nationalist Congress Party, the Sharad Pawar faction called Ajit Pawar, a “gaddar” (traitor) as it put a poster outside senior Pawar's Delhi residence. The poster was put up by senior Pawar faction outside his Delhi’s residence drawing a parallel between Ajit Pawar's move to take control of the party and the epic betrayal in blockbuster movie Baahubali, in which Katappa, the closest companion of the protagonist, stabs him from behind.

"The whole country is watching traitors hidden among one's own. The public won't forgive such fraud people," the poster read, with silhouettes from the Baahubali poster tweaked to make the figures resemble Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. The poster, put up by NCP's student wing, does not name anyone and mentions "gaddar" — meaning traitor — with a hashtag.  

NCP president Sharad Pawar has called a national executive meeting on Thursday in New Delhi. The meeting comes a day after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said he aspired to become the CM of the state and also took a jibe at Sharad Pawar asking his 83-year-old uncle when he will retire from active politics.

On Wednesday, Sharad Pawar said that the NCP poll symbol of the clock will remain with him and no one can snatch it. This comment came after rebel NCP leader Ajit Pawar approached the Election Commission and staked claim to the party name and poll symbol.

In its letter to the Election Commission, the rebel NCP faction mentioned that Ajit Pawar was the national president of the party and not Sharad Pawar, sources told ABP News. Ajit Pawar, who has said he has the backing of more than 35 MLAs, also staked claim to the Nationalist Congress Party name and party symbol.